^l^ 


SoNH  :      "  Take,  O  take  those  lips  away, 

That  so  sweetly  were  forsworn  ' ' 

Measure  for  Measure  Act  IV  Scene 


Copyright,    1 901 

By 

THE    UNIVERSITY    SOCIETY 


COLLEG 
LIBRAm 

Preface.  \^o\ 


MEASURE   FOR   MEASURE. 


The  First  Edition.  Measure  for  Measure  was  first 
printed  in  the  First  FoHo,  where  it  occupies  pp.  61-84, 
and  holds  the  fourth  place  among  the  '  Comedies.'  No 
direct  reference  to  the  play  has  been  found  anterior  to  its 
publication  in  1623,  nor  is  there  any  record  of  its  per- 
formance before  the  Restoration,  when  Davenant  pro- 
duced his  Lazv  against  Lovers,  a  wretched  attempt  to  fuse 
Measure  for  Measure  and  Much  Ado  About  Nothing 
into  one  play. 

The  Date  of  Composition.  A 11  arguments  for  the  date 
of  composition  of  Measure  for  Measure  mu.sthedva.wn  from 
general  considerations  of  style,  and  from  alleged  allusions. 
As  regards  the  latter,  it  has  been  maintained  that  two 
passages  (Act  I.  i.  68-71  and  Act  II.  iv.  27-30)  offer 
"  a  courtly  apology  for  King  James  I.'s  stately  and  un- 
gracious demeanour  on  his  entry  into  England,"  and 
various  points  of  likeness  in  the  character  of  the  Duke 
and  James  have  been  detected. "^  This  evidence  by  itself 
would  be  of  little  value,  but  it  certainly  corroborates  the 
aesthetic  and  metrical  tests,  which  fix  the  date  of  compo- 
sition about  the  year  1603-4.  Further,  in  1607,  William 
Barksted,  an  admirer  of  our  poet,  published  a  poem,  en- 
titled Myrrha,  the  Mother  of  Adonis,  wherein  occurs  an 

*  The  entry  usually  cited  from  the  accounts  of  the  Revels  at 
Court  from  Oct.  1604  to  Oct.  1605  is  now  known  to  be  a  forgery. 
"  By  his  Matis  Plaiers  on  Stivens  night  in  the  Hall,  a  Play  called 
'  Mesur  for  Mesur '  "  :  probably,  however,  the  forgery  was  based 
on  authentic  information. 


Preface  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

obvious  reminiscence  of  a  passage  in  Measure  for  Meas- 
ure : — 

"  And  like  as  when  some  sudden  extasie 
Seizeth  the  nature  of  a  sicklie  man ; 
When  he  's  discerned  to  swoon,  straight  by  and  by 

Folke  to  his  helpe  confusedly  have  ran ; 
And  seeking  with  their  art  to  fetch  him  backe, 
So  many  throng,  that  he  the  ayre  doth  lacke." 

(cp.  Measure  for  Measure,  II.  iv.  24-27). 

Mr.  Stokes  has  advanced  the  ingenious  conjecture  that 
Barksted,  as  one  of  the  children  of  the  Revels,  may  have 
been  the  original  actor  of  the  part  of  Isabella.* 

The  strongest  argument  for  the  date  1603,  generally 
adopted  by  critics,  is  derived  from  the  many  links  be- 
tween this  play  and  Hamlet;  they  both  contain  similar 
reflections  on  Life  and  Death,  though  Measure  for  Meas- 
ure "  deals,  not  like  Hamlet  with  the  problems  which  be- 
set one  of  exceptional  temperament,  but  with  mere  human 
nature"  (W.  Pater,  Appreciations,  p.  179).  There  are, 
moreover,  striking  parallelisms  of  expression  in  the  two 
plays.  Similarly,  incidents  in  Measure  for  Measure  re- 
call All 's  Well  that  Ends  Well ;  Isabella  and  Helena  seem 
almost  twin-sisters ;  but  the  questions  at  issue  concerning 
the  latter  play  are  too  intricate  to  warrant  us  in  drawing 
conclusions  as  regards  the  date  of  the  former  play. 

Source  of  the  Play.  The  plot  of  Measure  -for  Meas- 
ure was  ultimately  derived  from  the  Hecatommithi  of 
Giraldi  Cinthiof   (Decad.  8,  Nov.  5)  :  the  direct  source, 

^Cp.  The  Chronological  Order  of  Shakespeare's  Plays;  H.  P. 
Stokes;  106-109. 

t  Concerning  the  historical  basis  of  the  story,  cp.  Notes  and 
Queries,  July  29th  1893 ;  in  1547  a  Hungarian  student  in  Vienna 
narrated  the  occurrence  in  a  letter  to  a  friend  in  Sarvar:  {cp.  also 
Goulast's  Histoires  admirables  et  mcmorahles  advenues  de  Nostre 
Temps,  1607).  It  would  seem  that'the  subject  had  already  been 
dramatized  by  Claude  Rouillet  in  his  Philamire,  published  in 
1563,  two  years  before  Cinthio's  Hecatommithi. 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Preface 

however,  was  a  dramatisation  of  the  story  by  George 
Whetstone,  whose  Promos  and  Cassandra,  never  acted, 
was  printed  in  1578.  The  title  of  this  tedious  production 
is  noteworthy  as  indicating  the  rough  outhne  of  Shake- 
speare's original : — 

The  Right  Excellent  and  Famoiis\  History\  of  Promos 
and  Cassandra;]  divided  into  two  Comical  Disconrses.\ 
In  the  first  part  is  shown,\  the  unsufferable  abuse  of  a 
lezvd  Magistrate,]  the  virtuous  behaviour  of  a  chaste 
Lady:\  the  uncontrolled  lezvdness  of  a  favoured  Cour- 
tesan,] and  the  undeserved  estimation  of  a  pernicious 
Parasite.]  In  the  second  part  is  discoursed,]  the  perfect 
magnanimity  of  a  noble  King]  in  checking  Vice  and  fa- 
vouring Virtue:]  Wherein  is  shozvn]  the  Ruin  and 
Overthrozv  of  dishonest  practices,]  zvith  the  advancement 
of  upright  dealing.]  \Cp.  Hazlitt's  Shakespeare  Li- 
brary; Part  11.  Vol.  ii.) 

In  1582  Whetstone  included  a  prose  version  of  the  same 
story  in  his  Heptameron  of  Civil  Discourses, — a  version 
probably  known  to  Shakespeare;  it  has  even  been  in- 
ferred that  *'  in  this  narrative  he  may  well  have  caught 
the  first  glimpse  of  a  composition  with  nobler  propor- 
tions." 

The  old  play  of  Promos  and  Cassandra  may  claim  tJic 
distinction  of  having  provided  the  rough  material  for 
Measure  for  Measure;  the  earlier  production  should  be 
read  in  order  to  understand,  somewhat  at  least,  how 
Shakespeare  has  transformed  his  crude  original ;  how  he 
has  infused  into  it  a  loftier  motive ;  how  he  has  ennobled 
its  heroine,  and  created  new  episodes  and  new  characters. 
The  picture  of  the  wronged,  dejected  mistress  of  the 
moated  grange  is  wholly  Shakespeare's. 

Duration  of  Action.  The  time  of  action  consists  of 
four  days : — 

Day  I.  Act  I.  Scene  i.  may  be  taken  as  a  kind  of  pre- 
lude, after  which  some  little  interval  must  be  supposed 
in  order  to  permit  the  new  governors  of  the  city  to  settle 

3 


Preface  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

to  their  work.  The  rest  of  the  play  is  comprised  in  three 
consecutive  days. 

Day  2  commences  with  Act  I.  Scene  ii.  and  ends  with 
Act  IV.  Scene  ii. 

Day  3  commences  with  Act  IV.  Scene  ii.  and  ends  with 
Act  IV.  Scene  iv. 

Day  4  includes  Act  IV.  Scenes  v.  and  vi.,  and  the  whole 
of  Act  V.  which  is  one  scene  only  (P.  A.  Daniel;  On  the 
Times  in  Shakespeare's  Plays;  New  Shakespeare  Soc, 
1877-79). 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 


Critical  Comments. 
I. 

Argument. 

I.  Vincentio,  Duke  of  Vienna,  being  desirous  of  intro- 
ducing reforms  into  his  government,  particularly  along 
the  line  of  public  morality,  announces  that  he  is  to  travel 
in  distant  lands,  and  delegates  his  authority  to  Angelo,  a 
man  renowned  for  probity  in  public  and  purity  in  private 
life.  Instead  of  leaving  the  city,  the  Duke  assumes  the 
habit  of  a  friar  and  remains  to  watch  secretly  the  actions 
of  his  deputy.  Claudio,  a  young  gentleman  of  Vienna, 
wrongs  his  betrothed,  Juliet,  who  is  with  child  by  him. 
Though  the  lovers  contemplate  early  marriage,  Claudio 
becomes  amenable  to  an  old  law — till  then  obsolete — 
which  fixes  capital  punishment  for  his  sin.  And  the  stern 
Angelo,  anxious  to  make  a  striking  example  of  the  first 
offender  brought  before  him,  sentences  Claudio  to  death. 
The  latter's  sister,  Isabella,  is  on  the  point  of  entering  a 
nunnery,  but  being  advised  of  her  brother's  peril,  re- 
solves to  intercede  with  the  deputy. 

II.  Angelo  vigorously  prosecutes  his  work  of  reform 
in  morality.  In  his  zeal  he  has  scant  time  for  mercy; 
and  Isabella  at  her  first  interview  with  him  can  obtain  no 
leniency  for  her  brother.  But  she  awakens  in  Angelo  a 
passion  that  had  hitherto  lain  dormant  in  his  cold  nature. 
At  her  second  interview  with  him  he  proposes  in  so  many 
words  that  she  purchase  her  brother's  pardon  wdth  her 
own  honour. 

III.  The  virtuous  maiden  spurns  the  proffered  terms 
and  hastens  to  Claudio,  in  prison,  whom  she  exhorts  to 


Comments  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

prepare  for  death,  since  his  Hfe  can  be  procured  only  by 
her  disgrace.  Claudio  at  first  upholds  her  decision;  but 
the  fear  of  death  weakens  his  resolution  and  he  implores 
her  to  yield  for  his  sake.  Isabella,  deeply  angered,  is  on 
the  point  of  leaving  him  to  his  fate,  when  the  disguised 
Duke — who  has  heard  their  conversation — enters  the  cell. 
He  tells  Isabella  privately  of  a  way  by  which  she  can  save 
her  brother  without  compromising  herself.  It  is  by  ap- 
pearing to  yield  to  Angelo,  appointing  a  rendezvous  with 
him,  and  then  sending  in  her  stead  one  Mariana,  who 
had  been  engaged  in  marriage  to  and  then  deserted  by 
Angelo. 

IV.  The  Duke  takes  Isabella  to  Mariana's  house, 
where  the  details  of  the  plan  are  arranged.  Angelo,  hav- 
ing accomplished  his  purpose  with  the  supposed  Isabella, 
sends  an  order  to  prison  for  the  immediate  execution  of 
Claudio.  The  Duke  is  in  the  prison  when  the  order  ar- 
rives, and  finds  means  to  save  Claudio  by  displaying  the 
head  of  another  man  who  had  just  died  and  who  re- 
sembled him.  The  Duke  then  advises  his  deputy  by  letter 
that  he  will  shortly  return  to  the  city. 

V.  The  Duke  appears  at  the  city  gates,  clad  in  his 
proper  costume.  He  is  met  by  Angelo  and  other  officials. 
Isabella  publicly  accuses  Angelo  of  seduction  and  murder. 
The  Duke  feigns  anger  towards  her  and  places  her  under 
arrest.  Mariana  in  turn  brings  accusation.  The  Duke 
retires,  leaving  the  inquiry  in  his  deputy's  hands,  and 
shortly  returns  in  his  costume  of  friar  in  order  to  act  as 
witness  in  the  testimony  of  the  two  women.  Circum- 
stances in  the  trial  force  him  to  resume  suddenly  his  rank 
as  Duke ;  whereupon  he  visits  merited  condemnation  upon 
Angelo,  who  is  sentenced  to  death,  after  being  married  to 
Mariana  for  her  own  protection.  The  penalty  is  averted 
by  the  entreaties  of  the  wife,  seconded  by  the  gentle  Isa- 
bella. Claudio  is  released  from  prison  and  enjoined  to 
wed  with  Juliet,  while  the  Duke  sues  for  the  hand  of  Isa- 
bella. 

McSpadden  :  Shakespearian  Synopses. 
6 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Comments 

II. 

The  Poet's  Purpose  in  this  Play. 

The  Puritans,  who  dreamed  of  leading  the  Christian 
Church  back  to  its  original  purity,  and  who  had  returned 
home  after  their  banishment  during  the  reign  of  Mary 
with  the  ideal  of  a  democratic  Church  before  their  eyes, 
could  not  possibly  approve  of  a  State  Church  subject  to 
the  crown,  or  of  such  an  institution  as  Episcopacy.  Some 
of  them  looked  to  Scottish  Presbyterianism  as  a  worthy 
model,  and  desired  to  see  Church  government  by  laymen, 
the  elders  of  the  congregation,  introduced  into  England, 
in  place  of  the  spiritual  aristocracy  of  the  bishops'  Others 
w^ent  still  farther,  denied  the  necessity  of  one  common 
form  of  worship  for  all,  and  desired  to  have  the  Church 
broken  up  into  independent  congregations,  in  which  any 
believer  might  officiate  as  priest.  We  have  here  the 
germs  of  the  great  party  division  in  Cromwell's  time  into 
Presbyterians  and  Independents. 

So  far  as  we  can  see,  Shakespeare  took  no  interest 
whatever  in  any  of  these  ecclesiastical  or  religious  move- 
ments. He  came  into  contact  with  Puritanism  only  in  its 
narrow  and  fanatical  hatred  of  his  art,  and  in  its  severely 
intolerant  condemnation  and  punishment  of  moral,  and 
especially  of  sexual,  frailties.  All  he  saw  w^as  its  Phari- 
saic aspect,  and  its  often  enough  only  simulated  virtue. 

It  was  his  indignation  at  this  hypocritical  virtue  that 
led  him  to  write  Measure  for  Measure.  He  treated  the 
subject  as  he  did,  because  the  interests  of  the  theatre  de- 
manded that  the  woof  of  comedy  should  be  interwoven 
with  the  severe  and  sombre  warp  of  tragedy.  But  what 
a  comedy!  Dark,  tragic,  heavy  as  the  poet's  mood — a 
tragi-comedy,  in  which  the  unusually  broad  and  realistic 
comic  scenes,  with  their  pictures  of  the  dregs  of  society, 
cannot  relieve  the  painfulness  of  the  theme,  or  disguise 
the  positively  criminal  nature  of  the  action.  One  feels 
throughout,  even  in  the  comic  episodes,  that  Shakespeare's 

7 


Comments  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

burning  wrath  at  the  moral  hypocrisy  of  self-righteousness 
underlies  the  whole  structure  like  a  volcano,  which  every 
moment  shoots  up  its  flames  through  the  superficial  form 
of  comedy  and  the  interludes  of  obligatory  merriment. 

And  yet  it  is  not  really  against  hypocrisy  that  his  at- 
tack is  aimed.  At  this  stage  of  his  development  he  is  far 
too  great  a  psychologist  to  depict  a  ready-made,  finished 
hypocrite.  No,  he  shows  us  how  weak  even  the  strictest 
Pharisee  will  prove,  if  only  he  happens  to  come  across 
the  temptation  which  really  tempts  him ;  and  how  such  a 
man's  desire,  if  it  meets  with  opposition,  reveals  in  him 
quite  another  being — a  villain,  a  brute  beast — who  allows 
himself  actions  worse  a  hundredfold  than  those  which,  in 
the  calm  superiority  of  a  spotless  conscience,  he  has  hither- 
to punished  in  others  with  the  utmost  severity. 

Brandes  :  William  Shakespeare. 

III. 
Isabella. 

The  humorous  scenes  would  be  altogether  repulsive 
were  it  not  that  they  are  needed  to  present,  without  dis- 
guise or  extenuation,  the  worst  of  moral  license  and  cor- 
ruption out  of  and  above  which  rise  the  virginal  strength 
and  severity  and  beauty  of  Isabella.  At  the  entrance  to 
the  dark  and  dangerous  tragic  world  into  which  Shak- 
spere  was  now  about  to  pass  stand  the  figures  of  Isabella 
and  of  Helena — one  the  embodiment  of  conscience,  the 
other  the  embodiment  of  will.  Isabella  is  the  only  one  of 
Shakspere's  women  whose  heart  and  eyes  are  fixed  upon 
an  impersonal  ideal,  to  whom  something  abstract  is  more, 
in  the  ardor  and  energy  of  her  youth,  than  any  human 
personality.     Out  of  this  Vienna,  in  which 

"  Corruption  boils  and  bubbles 
Till  it  o'errun  the  stew," 

emerges  this  pure  zeal,  this  rectitude  of  w411,  this  virgin 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Comments 

sanctity.  Isabella's  saintliness  is  not  of  the  passive,  tim- 
orous, or  merely  meditative  kind.  It  is  an  active  pursuit 
of  holiness  through  exercise  and  discipline.  She  knows 
nothing  of  a  Manichsean  hatred  of  the  body;  the  life  runs 
strongly  and  gladly  in  her  veins  ;  simply  her  soul  is  set 
upon  things  belonging  to  the  soul,  and  uses  the  body  for 
its  own  purposes.  And  that  the  life  of  the  soul  may  be 
invigorated,  she  would  bring  every  unruly  thought  into 
captivity,  "  having  in  a  readiness  to  revenge  all  disobedi- 
ence." 

Isabella  docs  not  return  to  the  sisterhood  of  Saint  Clare. 
Putting  aside  from  her  the  dress  of  religion,  and  the  strict 
conventual  rule,  she  accepts  her  place  as  Duchess  of 
Vienna.  In  this  there  is  no  dropping-away,  through  love 
of  pleasure  or  through  supineness,  from  her  ideal ;  it  is 
entirely  meet  and  right.  She  has  learned  that  in  the 
world  may  be  found  a  discipline  more  strict,  more  awful, 
than  the  discipline  of  the  convent;  she  has  learned  that 
the  world  has  need  of  her.  Her  life  is  still  a  consecrated 
life ;  the  vital  energy  of  her  heart  can  exert  and  augment 
itself  through  glad  and  faithful  wifehood,  and  through 
noble  station,  more  fully  than  in  seclusion.  To  preside 
over  this  polluted  and  feculent  Vienna  is  the  office  and 
charge  of  Isabella,  "  a  thing  ensky'd  and  sainted." 

DowDEN :  Shakspere. 

IV. 

Angelo. 

Angelo  is  not  so  properly  a  hypocrite  as  a  self-deceiver. 
For  it  is  very  considerable  that  he  wishes  to  be,  and  sin- 
cerely thinks  that  he  is  what  he  affects  and  appears  to 
be;  as  is  plain  from  his  consternation  at  the  wickedness 
which  opportunity  awakens  into  conscious  action  within 
him.  For  a  most  searching  and  pregnant  exposition  of 
this  type  of  character  the  reader  may  be  referred  to  Bishop 
Butler's  Sermon  before  the  House  of  Lords  on  the  30th 

P 


Comments  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

of  January ;  where  that  great  and  good  man,  whose  every 
sentence  is  an  acorn  of  wisdom,  speaks  of  a  class  of  men 
who  "  try  appearances  upon  themselves  as  well  as  upon 
the  world,  and  with  at  least  as  much  success ;  and  choose 
to  manage  so  as  to  make  their  own  minds  easy  with  their 
faults,  which  can  scarce  be  done  without  management, 
rather  than  to  mend  them."  Thus  Angelo  for  self-ends 
imitates  sanctity,  and  gets  taken  in  by  his  own  imitation. 
His  original  fault  lay  in  forgetting  or  ignoring  his  own 
frailty.  As  a  natural  consequence,  his  ''  darling  sin  is 
pride  that  apes  humility  "  ;  and  his  pride  of  virtue,  his 
conceit  of  purity,  ''  my  gravity  wherein  (let  no  man  hear 
me)  I  take  pride,"  while  it  keeps  him  from  certain  vices, 
is  itself  a  far  greater  vice  than  any  it  keeps  him  from  ; 
insomuch  that  Isabella's  presence  may  almost  be  said  to 
elevate  him  into  lust.  And  perhaps  the  array  of  low  and 
loathsome  vices,  which  the  Poet  has  clustered  about  him 
in  the  persons  of  Lucio,  the  Clown,  and  Mrs.  Over-done, 
was  necessary  to  make  us  feel  how  unspeakably  worse 
than  any  or  all  of  these  is  Angelo's  pride  of  virtue.  It 
can  hardly  be  needful  to  add,  that  in  Angelo  this  "  mys- 
tery of  iniquity  "  is  depicted  with  a  truth  and  sternness  of 
pencil,  that  could  scarce  have  been  achieved  but  in  an  age 
fruitful  in  living  examples  of  it. 

Hudson  :  The  Works  of  Shakespeare. 


V. 

The  Duke. 

The  Duke  has  been  rather  hardly  dealt  with  by  critics. 
The  Poet — than  whom  it  would  not  be  easy  to  find  a  better 
judge  of  what  belongs  to  wisdom  and  goodness — seems  to 
have  meant  him  for  a  wise  and  good  man ;  yet  he  has  rep- 
resented him  as  having  rather  more  skill  and  pleasure  in 
strategical  arts  and  roundabout  ways  than  is  altogether 
compatible  with  such  a  character.     Some  of  his  alleged 

10 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Comments 

reasons  for  the  action  he  is  going  about  reflect  no  honour 
on  him ;  but  it  is  observable  that  the  result  does  not  ap- 
prove them  to  have  been  his  real  ones :  his  conduct  at  the 
end  infers  better  motives  than  his  speech  offered  at  the 
beginning ;  which  naturally  suggests  that  there  may  have 
been  more  of  purpose  than  of  truth  in  his  statement  of 
them.  A  liberal,  sagacious,  and  merciful  prince,  but  with 
more  of  whim  and  caprice  than  suits  the  dignity  of  his 
place,  humanity  speaks  richly  from  his  lips ;  yet  in  his 
action  the  philosopher  and  divine  is  better  shown  than  the 
statesman ;  and  he  seems  to  take  a  very  questionable  de- 
light in  moving  about  as  an  unseen  providence,  by  secret 
counsels  leading  the  wicked  designs  of  others  to  safe  and 
wholesome  issues.  Schlegel  thinks  "  he  has  more  pleas- 
ure in  overhearing  his  subjects  than  in  governing  them  in 
the  usual  way  of  princes  "  ;  and  sets  him  down  as  an  ex- 
ception to  the  old  proverb, — ''  A  cowl  does  not  make  a 
monk  " :  and  perhaps  his  princely  virtues  are  somewhat 
obscured  by  the  disguise  which  so  completely  transforms 
him  into  a  monk.  Whether  he  acts  upon  the  wicked  prin- 
ciple with  which  that  fraternity  is  so  often  reproached,  or 
not,  it  is  pretty  certain  that  some  of  his  means  can  be  jus- 
tified by  nothing  but  the  end:  so  that  if  he  be  not  himself 
wrong  in  what  he  does,  he  has  no  shield  from  the  charge 
but  the  settled  custom  of  the  order  whose  functions  he 
undertakes.  Schlegel  justly  remarks,  that  ''  Shakespeare, 
amidst  the  rancour  of  religious  parties,  delights  in  paint- 
ing monks,  and  always  represents  their  influence  as  bene- 
ficial ;  there  being  in  his  plays  none  of  the  black  and  knav- 
ish specimens,  which  an  enthusiasm  for  Protestantism, 
rather  than  poetical  inspiration,  has  put  some  modern 
poets  upon  delineating.  He  merely  gives  his  monks  an 
incHnation  to  be  busy  in  the  affairs  of  others,  after  re- 
nouncing the  world  for  themselves ;  though  in  respect  of 
pious  frauds  he  does  not  make  them  very  scrupulous." 
As  to  the  Duke's  pardon  of  Angelo,  though  Justice  seems 
to  cry  out  against  the  act,  yet  in  the  premises  it  were  still 
more  unjust  in  him  to  do  otherwise;  the  deception  he  has 


Comments  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

practised  upon   Ang-elo  in  the  substituting  of   Mariana 
having  plainl}^  bound  him  to  the  course  he  takes. 

Hudson  :  The  Works  of  Shakespeare. 


VI. 

The  Minor  Characters. 

They  [the  comic  scenes],  as  well  as  the  loftier  scenes 
of  the  piece,  are  but  too  faithful  pictures  of  the  degrading 
and  hardening  influence  of  licentious  passion,  from  the 
lighter  profligacy  of  Lucio,  the  dissipated  gentleman,  to 
the  grosser  and  contented  degradation  of  the  Clown;  and 
if  these  are  all  painted  with  the  truth  of  Hogarth  or 
Crabbe,  they  are  depicted  with  no  air  of  sport  or  mirth, 
but  rather  with  that  of  bitter  scorn.  The  author  seems 
to  smile  like  his  own  Cassius,  "  as  if  he  mocked  himself." 
Thus  Elbow,  in  his  self-satisfied  conceit  and  pedantic 
ignorance,  would  appear,  as  some  of  the  critics  regard 
him,  simply  as  an  inferior  version  of  Dogberry.  But  he 
is  not  a  Dogberry  in  whose  absurdities  the  author  himself 
luxuriates,  but  one  whose  peculiarities  are  delineated  with 
a  contemptuous  sneer.  Lucio,  again,  is  a  character  un- 
fortunately too  common  in  civilized,  and  especially  in  city, 
life — a  gentleman  in  manners  and  education,  and  of  good 
natural  ability,  made  frivolous  in  mind  and  debased  in 
sentiment  and  disposition  by  licentious  and  idle  habits — 
thus  substantially  not  a  very  different  character  from  some 
of  the  lighter  personages  of  the  prior  dramas ;  but  he 
differs  mainly  from  them  because  exhibited  under  a  very 
different  light,  and  regarded  in  a  different  temper.  The 
others  are  represented  in  his  scenes  as  they  appeared  to 
the  transient  acquaintance,  or  the  companions  of  their 
pleasures.  But  the  poet  looks  deeper  into  the  heart  and 
life  of  Lucio,  and  portrays  this  man  of  pleasure  in  the 
same  mood  which  governs  the  higher  and  more  tragic 
scenes  of  this  drama — a  mood  sometimes  contemptuous, 

12 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Comments 

sometimes  sad,  often  indignant,  but  never  such  as  had 
been  his  former  wont,  either  merely  playful  or  imagina- 
tive. Thus  it  seems  to  me  that,  if  his  comic  scenes  excite 
mirth  from  their  truth,  it  is  a  mirth  in  which  the  author 
did  not  participate  ;  and  their  sarcastic  humour  assimilates 
itself  in  feeling  to  that  of  the  stern  and  grave  interest  of 
the  plot,  and  the  strong  passion  of  its  poetic  scenes.  Char- 
acters, in  themselves  light  and  amusing,  are  branded  with 
contempt  from  the  degradation  of  licentious  habits ;  while 
the  same  passion,  in  a  form  of  less  grossness,  but  of  deeper 
guilt,  prostrates  before  it  high  reputation,  talent,  and  wis- 
dom. The  intellectual  and  amiable  Claudio,  willing  to 
purchase  ''  the  .weariest  and  most  loathed  worldly  life," 
at  any  cost  of  shame  and  sin,  is  strangely  contrasted  with 
the  drunken  Barnardine,  "  careless,  reckless,  and  fearless 
of  what  is  past,  present,  or  to  come."  Indeed,  the  higher 
characters  are  mainly  discriminated  from  the  lower  ones, 
in  this  moral  delineation,  in  that  conscience  is  dull  or  dead 
in  the  latter,  while  it  appears  in  all  its  terrors  in  Angelo 
and  Claudio,  and  in  all  the  majesty  of  purity  in  Isabella. 
Verplanck  :  The  Illustrated  Shakespeare, 


VII. 
The  Play  as  a  Whole. 

There  is  very  much  in  Measure  for  Measure  that  of 
itself  would  assign  it  to  the  period  of  the  Tzi'o  Gentlemen 
of  Verona,  All's  Well  that  Ends  Well,  Titus  Andronicns, 
Love's  Labour's  Lost — plays  which  are  all  equally  re- 
markable for  imperfections,  and  for  the  beauties  and  dis- 
plays of  genius  associated  with  them. 

The  city  of  Vienna  is  the  scene  of  the  play — it  is  repre- 
sented as  a  very  sink  of  sensual  defilement,  corrupted  and 
ravaged  in  every  physical  and  moral  quality,  the  conse- 
quence of  the  suspension,  for  fourteen  years,  of  the  activ- 
ity of  most  severe  statutes  framed  to  check  the  national 
tendency  to  grossness  and  licence.     The  delineation  of 

13 


Comments  MEASUPvE  FOR  MEASURE 

such  a  state  of  course  presents  us  with  images  and  per- 
sons disgusting  and  contemptible  in  every  sense ;  and 
this  is  one  great  cause  of  the  uncongenial  effect  of  the 
entire  play.  The  progress  of  public  demoralization  is 
rather  exaggerated  than  relieved  by  the  character  of  the 
reaction  to  which  it  has  conduced.  Dissoluteness  in  one 
quarter  is  compensated  by  austerity  equally  in  excess  in 
another,  and  the  pride  of  unblushing  and  ostentatious 
vice  is  matched  by  equal  parade  of  ostentatious  virtue. 
The  picture  is  a  true  one  of  the  effect  on  morals  of  laws  or 
maxims  too  severe  to  be  executed ;  and  the  action  of  the 
play  exhibits  the  farther  disorder  and  complication  result- 
ing from  the  mere  revival  of  unamended  statutes,  that 
had  never  become  obsolete  but  for  their  need  of  amend- 
ment, and  can  scarcely  have  a  better  fate  again.  All  the 
questions  involved  are  brought  to  issue  in  the  play,  though 
it  scarcely  leaves  assurance  in  conclusion  that  the  in- 
structive experience  will  have  its  full  weight  for  the  fu- 
ture. We  are  spectators  of  a  receptacle  of  stagnant  im- 
purities in  vehement  ferment,  and  working  through  stages 
of  decomposition,  but  the  hope  of  ultimate  purification  is 
scarcely  set  forth  so  cheeringly  as  to  compensate  for  the 
disagreeableness  of  what  we  witness. 

Lloyd  :  Critical  Essays  on  the  Plays  of  Shakespeare. 


[Measure  for  Measure]  is  perhaps,  after  Hamlet,  Lear, 
and  Macbeth,  the  play  in  which  Shakspeare  struggles,  as 
it  were,  most  with  the  over-mastering  power  of  his  own 
mind;  the  depths  and  intricacies  of  being,  which  he  has 
searched  and  sounded  with  intense  reflection,  perplex  and 
harass  him ;  his  personages  arrest  their  course  of  action 
to  pour  forth,  in  language  the  most  remote  from  common 
use,  thoughts  which  few  could  grasp  in  the  clearest  ex- 
pression; and  thus  he  loses  something  of  dramatic  excel- 
lence in  that  of  his  contemplative  philosophy. 
I  do  not  value  the  comic  parts  highly :  Lucio's  impudent 
profligacy,  the  result  rather  of  sensual  debasement  than 

14 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Comments 

of  natural  ill  disposition,  is  well  represented ;  but  Elbow 
is  a  very  inferior  repetition  of  Dogberry.  In  dramatic 
effect,  Measure  for  Measure  ranks  high :  the  two  scenes 
between  Isabella  and  Angelo,  that  between  her  and  Clau- 
dio,  those  where  the  Duke  appears  in  disguise,  and  the 
catastrophe  in  the  fifth  act,  are  admirably  written  and  very 
interesting ;  except  so  far  as  the  spectator's  knowledge  of 
the  two  stratagems  which  have  deceived  Angelo  may  pre- 
vent him  from  participating  in  the  indignation  at  Isabella's 
imaginary  wrong  which  her  lamentations  would  excite. 
Hallam  :  Introduction  to  the  Literature  of  Europe. 


In  Measure  for  Measure  Shakspeare  was  compelled, 
by  the  nature  of  the  subject,  to  make  his  poetry  more 
familiar  with  criminal  justice  than  is  usual  with  him.  All 
kinds  of  proceedings  connected  with  the  subject,  all  sorts 
of  active  or  passive  persons,  pass  in  review  before  us :  the 
hypocritical  lord  deputy,  the  compassionate  provost,  and 
the  hard-hearted  hangman;  a  young  man  of  quality  who 
is  to  suffer  for  the  seduction  of  his  mistress  before  mar- 
riage, loose  wretches  brought  in  by  the  police,  nay,  even 
a  hardened  criminal,  whom  even  the  preparations  for  his 
execution  cannot  awaken  out  of  his  callousness.  But  yet, 
notwithstanding  this  agitating  truthfulness,  how  tender 
and  mild  is  the  pervading  tone  of  the  picture !  The  piece 
takes  improperly  its  name  from  punishment ;  the  true  sig- 
nificance of  the  whole  is  the  triumph  of  mercy  over  strict 
justice;  no  man  being  himself  so  free  from  errors  as  to  be 
entitled  to  deal  it  out  to  his  equals.  The  most  beautiful 
embellishment  of  the  composition  is  the  character  of  Isa- 
bella, who,  on  the  point  of  taking  the  veil,  is  yet  pre- 
vailed upon  by  sisterly  affection  to  tread  again  the  per- 
plexing ways  of  the  world,  while,  amid  the  general  cor- 
ruption, the  heavenly  purity  of  her  mind  is  not  even 
stained  with  one  unholy  thought :  in  the  humble  robes  of 
the  novice  she  is  a  very  angel  of  light.  When  the  cold 
and  stern  Angelo,  heretofore  of  unblemished  reputation, 

15 


Comments  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

whom  the  duke  has  commissioned,  during  his  pretended 
absence,  to  restrain,  by  a  rigid  administration  of  the  laws, 
the  excesses  of  dissolute  immorality,  is  even  himself 
tempted  by  the  virgin  charms  of  Isabella,  supplicating  for 
the  pardon  of  her  brother  Claudio,  condemned  to  death 
for  a  youthful  indiscretion ;  when  at  first,  in  timid  and 
obscure  language,  he  insinuates,  but  at  last  impudently 
avouches,  his  readiness  to  grant  Claudio's  life  to  the  sac- 
rifice of  her  honour ;  when  Isabella  repulses  his  offer  with 
a  noble  scorn ;  in  her  account  of  the  interview  to  her 
brother,  when  the  latter  at  first  applauds  her  conduct,  but 
at  length,  overcome  by  the  fear  of  death,  strives  to  per- 
suade her  to  consent  to  dishonour — in  these  masterly 
scenes,  Shakspeare  has  sounded  the  depths  of  the  human 
heart.  The  interest  here  reposes  altogether  on  the  repre- 
sented action  ;  curiosity  contributes  nothing  to  our  delight, 
for  the  duke,  in  the  disguise  of  a  monk,  is  always  present 
to  watch  over  his  dangerous  representative,  and  to  avert 
every  evil  which  could  possibly  be  apprehended ;  we  look 
to  him  with  confidence  for  a  happy  result.  The  duke  acts 
the  part  of  the  monk  naturally,  even  to  deception ;  he 
unites  in  his  person  the  wisdom  of  the  priest  and  the 
prince.  Only  in  his  wisdom  he  is  too  fond  of  round-about 
ways ;  his  vanity  is  flattered  with  acting  invisibly  like  an 
earthly  providence  ;  he  takes  more  pleasure  in  overhearing 
his  subjects  than  governing  them  in  the  customary  way  of 
princes.  As  he  ultimately  extends  a  free  pardon  to  all  the 
guilty,  we  do  not  see  how  his  original  purpose,  in  com- 
mitting the  execution  of  the  laws  to  other  hands,  of  re- 
storing their  strictness,  has  in  any  wise  been  accom- 
plished. 
Schlegel:  Lectures  on  Dramatic  Art  and  Literature. 


In  Measure  for  Measure,  in  contrast  with  the  flawless 
execution  of  Romeo  and  Juliet,  Shakespeare  has  spent  his 
art  in  just  enough  modification  of  the  scheme  of  the  older 
play  to  make  it  exponent  of  this  purpose,  adapting  its  ter- 

i6 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Comments 

rible  essential  incidents  so  that  Coleridge  found  it  the 
only  painful  work  among  Shakespeare's  dramas,  and 
leaving  for  the  reader  of  to-day  more  than  the  usual 
number  of  difficult  expressions  ;  but  infusing  a  lavish  color 
and  a  profound  significance  into  it,  so  that  under  his  touch 
certain  select  portions  of  it  rise  far  above  the  level  of  all 
but  his  own  best  poetry,  and  working  out  of  it  a  morality 
so  characteristic  that  the  play  might  wxU  pass  for  the  cen- 
tral expression  of  his  moral  judgements.  It  remains  a 
comedy,  as  indeed  is  congruous  with  the  bland,  half- 
humorous  equity  which  informs  the  whole  composition, 
sinking  from  the  heights  of  sorrow  and  terror  into  the 
rough  scheme  of  the  earlier  piece;  yet,  it  is  hardly  less 
full  of  what  is  really  tragic  in  man's  existence  than  if 
Claudio  had  indeed  "  stooped  to  death."  Even  the  hu- 
morous concluding  scenes  have  traits  of  special  grace, 
retaining  in  less  emphatic  passages  a  stray  line  or  word  of 
power,  as  it  seems,  so  that  we  watch  to  the  end  for  the 
traces  where  the  nobler  hand  has  glanced  along,  leaving  its 
vestiges,  as  if  accidentally  or  wastefully,  in  the  rising  of 
the  style. 

The  action  of  the  play,  like  the  action  of  life  itself  for 
the  keener  observer,  develops  in  us  the  conception  of  this 
poetical  justice,  and  the  yearning  to  realize  it,  the  true 
justice  of  which  Angelo  knows  nothing,  because  it  lies 
for  the  most  part  beyond  the  limits  of  any  acknowledged 
law.  The  idea  of  justice  involves  the  idea  of  rights. 
But  at  bottom  rights  are  equivalent  to  that  which  really  is, 
to  facts ;  and  the  recognition  of  his  rights  therefore,  the 
justice  he  requires  of  our  hands,  or  our  thoughts,  is  the 
recognition  of  that  which  the  person,  in  his  inmost  nature, 
really  is;  and  as  sympathy  alone  can  discover  that  which 
really  is  in  matters  of  feeling  and  thought,  true  justice 
is  in  its  essence  a  finer  knowledge  through  love. 

"  'Tis  very  pregnant : 
The  jewel  that  we  find  we  stoop  and  take  it, 
Because  we  see  it ;  but  what  we  do  not  see 
We  tread  upon,  and  never  think  of  it." 

17 


Comments  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

It  is  for  this  finer  justice,  a  justice  based  on  a  more 
delicate  appreciation  of  the  true  conditions  of  men  and 
things,  a  true  respect  of  persons  in  our  estimate  of 
actions,  that  the  people  in  Measure  for  Measure  cry  out 
as  they  pass  before  us ;  and  as  the  poetry  of  this  play  is 
full  of  the  peculiarities  of  Shakespeare's  poetry,  so  in  its 
ethics  it  is  an  epitome  of  Shakespeare's  moral  judgements. 
They  are  the  moral  judgements  of  an  observer, of  one  who 
sits  as  a  spectator,  and  knows  how  the  threads  in  the  de- 
sign before  him  hold  together  under  the  surface :  they  are 
the  judgements  of  the  humourist  also,  who  follows  with 
a  half-amused  but  always  pitiful  sympathy,  the  various 
ways  of  human  disposition,  and  sees  less  distance  than 
ordinary  men  between  what  are  called  respectively  great 
and  little  things. 

Pater  ;  Appreciations. 


i8 


Measure  for  Measure. 


DRAMATIS   PERSONAE. 

ViNCENTio,  the  Duke. 
Angelo,  Deputy. 
EscALUS^  an  ancient  Lord. 
Claudio,  a  young  gentleman. 
Lucio,  a  fantastic. 
Two  other  gentlemen. 
Provost. 

Thomas,  )  ,  . 

.^  >  two  friars. 

Peter,       ) 

A  Justice. 

Varrius. 

Elbow,  a  simple  constable. 

Froth,  a  foolish  gentleman. 

PoMPEY,  servant  to  Mistress  Overdone. 

Abhorson,  an  executioner. 

Barnardine,  a  dissolute  prisoner. 

Isabella,  sister  to  Claudio. 
Mariana,  betrothed  to  Angelo. 
Juliet,  beloved  of  Claudio. 
Francisca,  a  nun. 
Mistress  Overdone,  a  bawd. 

Lords,  Officers,  Citizens,  Boy,  and  Attendants. 

Scene:    Vienna. 


Measure  for  Measure. 

ACT  FIRST. 
Scene  I. 

An  apartment  in  the  Duke's  palace. 
Enter  Duke,  Escalus,  Lords  and  Attendants. 

Duke.  Escalus. 
Escal.  My  lord. 
Duke.  Of  government  the  properties  to  unfold, 

Would  seem  in  me  to  affect  speech  and  discourse ; 

Since  I  am  put  to  know  that  your  own  science  ■ 

Exceeds,  in  that,  the  lists  of  all  advice 

My  strength  can  give  you :  then  no  more  remains, 

But  that  to  your  sufficiency  [you  add 

Due  diligency]  as  your  worth  is  able, 

And  let  them  work.     The  nature  of  our  people,        lo 

Our  city's  institutions,  and  the  terms 

For  common  justice,  you  're  as  pregnant  in 

As  art  and  practice  hath  enriched  any 

That  we  remember.     There  is  our  commission. 

From  which  we  would  not  have  you  warp.     Call 
hither, 

I  say,  bid  come  before  us  Angelo.  [Exit  an  Attendant. 

What  figure  of  us  think  you  he  will  bear  ? 

For  you  must  know,  we  have  with  special  soul 

Elected  him  our  absence  to  supply ; 

Lent  him  our  terror,  dress'd  him  with  our  love,        20 

And  given  his  deputation  all  the  organs 

Of  our  own  power:  what  think  you  of  it? 


Act  I.  Sc.  i.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

Escal.  If  any  in  Vienna  be  of  worth 

To  undergo  such  ample  grace  and  honour, 
It  is  Lord  Angelo. 

Duke.  Look  where  he  comes. 

Enter  Angelo. 

Ang.  Always  obedient  to  your  Grace's  will, 
I  come  to  know  your  pleasure. 

Duke.  Angelo, 

There  is  a  kind  of  character  in  thy  life, 
That  to  th'  observer  doth  thy  history 
Fully  unfold.     Thyself  and  thy  belongings  30 

Are  not  thine  own  so  proper,  as  to  waste 
Thyself  upon  thy  virtues,  they  on  thee. 
Heaven  doth  with  us  as  we  with  torches  do. 
Not  light  them  for  themselves ;   for  if  our  virtues 
Did  not  go  forth  of  us,  'twere  all  alike 
As  if  we  had  them  not.     Spirits  are  not  finely  touch' d 
But  to  fine  issues  ;  nor  Nature  never  lends 
The  smallest  scruple  of  her  excellence. 
But,  like  a  thrifty  goddess,  she  determines 
Herself  the  glory  of  a  creditor,  40 

Both  thanks  and  use.     But  I  do  bend  my  speech 
To  one  that  can  my  part  in  him  advertise ; 
Hold  therefore,  Angelo : — 
In  our  remove  be  thou  at  full  ourself ; 
Mortality  and  mercy  in  Vienna 
Live  in  thy  tongue  and  heart :   old  Escalus, 
Though  first  in  question,  is  thy  secondary. 
Take  thy  commission. 

Ang.  Now,  good  my  lord, 

Let  there  be  some  more  test  made  of  my  metal, 
22 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  I.  Sc.  i. 

Before  so  noble  and  so  great  a  figure  50 

Be  stamp'd  upon  it. 

Duke.  No  more  evasion  : 

We  have  with  a  leaven'd  and  prepared  choice 
Proceeded  to  you ;   therefore  take  your  honours. 
Our  haste  from  hence  is  of  so  quick  condition, 
That  it  prefers  itself,  and  leaves  unquestion'd 
Matters  of  needful  value.     We  shall  write  to  you. 
As  time  and  our  concernings  shall  importune. 
How  it  goes  with  us  ;  and  do  look  to  know 
What  doth  befall  you  here.     So,  fare  you  well : 
To  the  hopeful  execution  do  I  leave  you  60 

Of  your  commissions. 

Aug.  Yet,  give  leave,  my  lord, 

That  we  may  bring  you  something  on  the  way. 

Duke.  My  haste  may  not  admit  it ; 

Nor  need  you,  on  mine  honour,  have  to  do 

With  any  scruple;   your  scope  is  as  mine  own, 

So  to  enforce  or  quahfy  the  laws 

As  to  your  soul  seems  good.     Give  me  your  hand  : 

I  '11  privily  away.     I  love  the  people. 

But  do  not  like  to  stage  me  to  their  eyes : 

Though  it  do  well,  I  do  not  relish  well  70 

Their  loud  applause  and  Aves  vehement ; 

Nor  do  I  think  the  man  of  safe  discretion 

That  does  affect  it.     Once  more,  fare  you  well. 

Ang.  The  heavens  give  safety  to  your  purposes ! 

Escal.  Lead  forth  and  bring  you  back  in  happiness ! 

Duke.  I  thank  you.     Fare  you  well.  [Exit. 

Escal.    I  shall  desire  you,  sir,  to  give  me  leave 

To  have  free  speech  with  you ;  .and  it  concerns  me 
To  look  into  the  bottom  of  my  place : 

23 


Act  I.  Sc.  ii.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

A  power  I  have,  but  of  what  strength  and  nature     80 

I  am  not  yet  instructed. 
Ang.  'Tis  so  with  me.     Let  us  withdraw  together. 

And  we  may  soon  our  satisfaction  have 

Touching  that  point. 
EscaL  I  '11  wait  upon  your  honour. 

[Exciuit. 

Scene  II. 

A  street. 
Enter  Liicio  and  tzvo  Gentlemen. 

Lueio.  If  the  Duke,  with  the  other  dukes,  come  not  to 
composition  with  the  King  of  Hungary,  why 
then  all  the  dukes  fall  upon  the  king. 

First  Gent.  Heaven  grant  us  its  peace,  but  not  the 
King  of  Hungary's ! 

Sec.  Gent.  Amen. 

Lncio.  Thou  concludest  like  the  sanctimonious  pirate, 
that  went  to  sea  with  the  Ten  Commandments, 
but  scraped  one  out  of  the  table. 

Sec.  Gent.  '  Thou  shalt  not  steal '?  10 

Lucio.  Ay,  that  he  razed. 

First  Gent.  Why,  'twas  a  commandment  to  command 
the  captain  and  all  the  rest  from  their  functions : 
they  put  forth  to  steal.  There  's  not  a  soldier 
of  us  all,  that,  in  the  thanksgiving  before  meat, 
do  relish  the  petition  well  that  prays  for  peace. 

Sec.  Gent.  I  never  heard  any  soldier  dislike  it. 

Lucio.  I  believe  thee ;    for  I  think  thou  never  wast 

where  grace  was  said.  20 

24 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  I.  Sc.  ii. 

Sec.  Gent.  No?  a  dozen  times  at  least. 

First  Gent.  What,  in  metre? 

Liicio.  In  any  proportion  or  in  any  language. 

First  Gent.  I  think,  or  in  any  religion. 

Lucio.  Ay,  why  not?  Grace  is  grace,  despite  of  all 
controversy :  as,  for  example,  thou  thyself  art  a 
wicked  villain,  despite  of  all  grace. 

First  Gent.  Well,  there  went  but  a  pair  of  shears  be- 
tween us. 

Lucio.  I  grant;    as  there  may  between  the  lists  and     30 
the  velvet.     Thou  art  the  list. 

First  Gent.  And  thou  the  velvet :  thou  art  good  vel- 
vet ;  thou  'rt  a  three-piled  piece,  I  warrant  thee : 
I  had  a'S  lief  be  a  list  of  an  English  kersey,  as  be 
piled,  as  thou  art  piled,  for  a  French  velvet.  Do 
I  speak  feelingly  now  ? 

Lucio.  I  think  thou  dost ;  and,  indeed,  with  most 
painful  feeling  of  thy  speech  :  I  will,  out  of  thine 
own  confession,  learn  to  begin  thy  health;  but, 
whilst  I  live,  forget  to  drink  after  thee.  40 

First  Gent.  I  think  I  have  done  myself  wrong,  have 
I  not? 

Sec.  Gent.  Yes,  that  thou  hast,  whether  thou  art 
tainted  or  free. 

Lucio.  Behold,  behold,  where  Madam  Mitigation 
comes !  I  have  purchased  as  many  diseases  un- 
der her  roof  as  come  to — 

Sec.  Gent.  To  what,  I  pray? 

Lucio.  Judge. 

Sec.  Gent.  To  three  thousand  dolours  a  year.  50 

First  Gent.  Ay,  and  more. 

Lucio.    A  French  crown  more. 

25 


Act  I.  Sc.  ii.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

First  Gent.  Thou  art  always  figuring  diseases  in  me; 
but  thou  art  full  of  error ;   I  am  sound. 

Lucio.  Nay,  not  as  one  would  say,  healthy ;  but  so 
sound  as  things  that  are  hollow :  thy  bones  are 
hollow ;  impiet}^  has  made  a  feast  of  thee. 

Elite?'  Mistress  Overdone. 

First  Gent.  How  now !  which  of  your  hips  has  the 
most  profound  sciatica? 

Mrs  Ov.  Well,  well ;  there  's  one  yonder  arrested  and     60 
carried  to  prison  was  worth  five  thousand  of 
you  all. 

See.  Gent.  Who  's  that,  I  pray  thee? 

Mrs  Ov.  Marry,  sir,  that 's  Claudio,  Signior  Claudio. 

First  Gent.  Claudio  to  prison  ?  'tis  not  so. 

Mrs  Ov.  Nay,  but  I  know  'tis  so :  I  saw  him  ar- 
rested ;  saw  him  carried  away ;  and,  which  is 
more,  within  these  three  days  his  head  to  be 
chopped  off. 

Lucio.  But,  after  all  this  fooling,  I  would  not  have 

it  so.     Art  thou  sure  of  this  ?  70 

Mrs  Ov.  I  am  too  sure  of  it :  and  it  is  for  getting 
Madam  Julietta  with  child. 

Lucio.  Believe  me,  this  may  be :  he  promised  to  meet 
me  two  hours  since,  and  he  was  ever  precise  in 
promise-keeping. 

Sec.  Gent.  Besides,  you  know,  it  draws  something 
near  to  the  speech  we  had  to  such  a  purpose. 

First  Gent.  But,  most  of  all,  agreeing  with  the  proc- 
lamation. 

Lucio.  Away !   let 's  go  learn  the  truth  of  it.  80 

[Exeunt  Lucio  and  Gentlemen. 

Mrs  Ov.  Thus,  what  with  the  war,  what  with  the 

26 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  I.  Sc.  ii. 

sweat,  what  with  the  gallows,  and  what  with 
poverty,  I  am  custom-shrunk. 

Enter  Pompey. 

How  now !  what 's  the  news  with  you  ? 

Pom.  Yonder  man  is  carried  to  prison, 

Mrs  Ov,  Well ;  what  has  he  done  ? 

Pom.  A  woman. 

Mrs  Ov.  But  what 's  his  offence  ? 

Pom.  Groping  for  trouts  in  a  peculiar  river. 

Mrs  Ov.  What,  is  there  a  maid  with  child  by  him  ?      90 

Pom.  No,  but  there  's  a  woman  with  maid  by  him. 
You  have  not  heard  of  the  proclamation,  have 
you? 

Mrs  Ov.  What  proclamation,  man  ? 

Pom.  All  houses  in  the  suburbs  of  Vienna  must  be 
plucked  do\vn. 

Mrs  Ov.  And  what  shall  become  of  those  in  the  city  ? 

Pom.  They  shall  stand  for  seed :  they  had  gone  down 
too,  but  that  a  wise  burgher  put  in  for  them. 

Mrs  Ov.  But  shall  all  our  houses  of  resort  in  the 

suburbs  be  pulled  down?  100 

Pom.  To  the  ground,  mistress. 

Mrs  Ov.  Why,  here  's  a  change  indeed  in  the  com- 
monwealth !     What  shall  become  of  me  ? 

Pom.  Come ;  fear  not  you :  good  counsellors  lack  no 
clients  :  though  you  change  your  place,  you  need 
not  change  your  trade ;  I  '11  be  your  tapster  still. 
Courage !  there  will  be  pity  taken  on  you :  you 
that  have  worn  your  eyes  almost  out  in  the 
service,  you  will  be  considered. 

Mrs  Ov.  What's  to  do  here,  Thomas  tapster?   let's  no 
withdraw. 

2; 


Act  I.  Sc.  ii.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

Pom,  Here  comes  Signior  Claudio,  led  by  the  provost 

to  prison  ;  and  there  's  ]\Iadam  Juhet.  [Exeunt. 

Enter  Provost,  Claudio,  Juliet  and  Officers. 

Claud.  Fellow,  why  dost  thou  show  me  thus  to  the  world? 
Bear  me  to  prison,  where  I  am  committed. 

Prov.  I  do  it  not  in  evil  disposition. 

But  from  Lord  Angelo  by  special  charge. 

Claud,  Thus  can  the  demigod  Authority 

Make  us  pay  down  for  our  offence  by  weight 

The  words  of  heaven  ; — on  whom  it  will,  it  will ;  120 

On  whom  it  will  not,  so ;  yet  still  'tis  just. 

Re-enter  Lucio  and  two  Gentlemen. 

Lucio.  Why,  how  now,  Claudio !    whence  comes  this  re- 
straint ? 

Claud.  From  too  much  liberty,  my  Lucio,  liberty : 
As  surfeit  is  the  father  of  much  fast, 
So  every  scope  by  the  immoderate  use 
Turns  to  restraint.     Our  natures  do  pursue, 
Like  rats  that  ravin  down  their  proper  bane, 
A  thirsty  evil ;  and  when  we  drink  we  die. 

Lucio.  If  I  could  speak  so  wisely  under  an  arrest,  I  130 
would  send  for  certain  of  my  creditors  :  and  yet, 
to  say  the  truth,  I  had  as  lief  have  the  foppery 
of   freedom   as  the   morality  of  imprisonment. 
What 's  thy  offence,  Claudio  ? 

Claud.  What  but  to  speak  of  would  offend  again. 

Lucio.  What,  is  't  murder? 

Claud.  No. 

Lucio.  Lechery? 

Claud.  Call  it  so. 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  I.  Sc.  ii. 

Prov.  Away,  sir  !   you  must  go.  140 

Claud.  One  word,  good  friend.     Lucio,  a  word  with  you. 

Liicio.  A  hundred,  if  they  "11  do  you  any  good. 
Is  lechery  so  look'd  after? 

Claud.  Thus  stands  it  with  me :  upon  a  true  contract 
I  got  possession  of  Julietta's  bed : 
You  know  the  lady ;  she  is  fast  my  wife, 
Save  that  we  do  the  denunciation  lack 
Of  outward  order :  this  we  came  not  to, 
Only  for  propagation  of  a  dower 
Remaining  in  the  coffer  of  her  friends ;  150 

From  whom  we  thought  it  meet  to  hide  our  love 
Till  time  had  made  them  for  us.     But  it  chances 
The  stealth  of  our  most  mutual  entertainment 
With  character  too  gross  is  writ  on  Juliet. 

Lucio.  With  child,  perhaps? 

Claud.  Unhappily,  even  so. 

And  the  new  Deputy  now  for  the  Duke, — 
Whether  it  be  the  fault  and  glimpse  of  newness. 
Or  whether  that  the  body  public  be 
A  horse  whereon  the  governor  doth  ride. 
Who,  newly  in  the  seat,  that  it  may  know  160 

He  can  command,  lets  it  straight  feel  the  spur ; 
Whether  the  tyranny  be  in  his  place, 
Or  in  his  eminence  that  fills  it  up, 
I  stagger  in : — but  this  new  governor 
Awakes  me  all  the  enrolled  penalties 
Which  have,  like  unscour'd  armour,  hung  by  the  wall 
So  long,  that  nineteen  zodiacs  have  gone  round, 
And  none  of  them  been  worn  ;  and,  for  a  name. 
Now  puts  the  drowsy  and  neglected  act 
Freshly  on  me:   'tis  surely  for  a  name.  170 

29 


Act  I.  Sc.  iii.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

Lucio.  I  warrant  it  is :  and  thy  head  stands  so  tickle 
on  thy  shoulders,  that  a  milkmaid,  if  she  be  in 
love,  may  sigh  it  off.  Send  after  the  Duke,  and 
appeal  to  him. 

Claud.  I  have  done  so,  but  he  's  not  to  be  found. 
I  prithee,  Lucio,  do  me  this  kmd  service: 
This  day  my  sister  should  the  cloister  enter 
And  there  receive  her  approbation: 
Acquaint  her  with  the  danger  of  my  state ; 
Implore  her,  in  my  voice,  that  she  make  friends      i8o 
To  the  strict  deputy ;  bid  herself  assay  him : 
I  have  great  hope  in  that ;  for  in  her  youth 
There  is  a  prone  and  speechless  dialect, 
Such  as  move  men  ;  besides,  she  hath  prosperous  art 
When  she  will  play  with  reason  and  discourse, 
And  well  she  can  persuade. 

Lucio.  I  pray  she  may ;    as  well  for  the  encourage- 
ment of  the  like,  which  else  would  stand  under 
grievous  imposition,  as  for  the  enjoying  of  thy 
life,  who  I  would  be  sorry  should  be  thus  fool-  190 
ishly  lost  at  a  game  of  tick-tack.     I  '11  to  her. 

Claud.  I  thank  you,  good  friend  Lucio. 

Lucio.  Within  two  hours. 

Claud.  Come,  officer,  away !     [Exeunt. 

Scene  III. 

A  monastery. 

Enter  Duke  and  Friar  Thomas. 

Duke.  No,  holy  father;  throw  away  that  thought; 
Believe  not  that  the  dribbling  dart  of  love 

30    . 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  I.  Sc.  iii. 

Can  pierce  a  complete  bosom.     Why  I  desire  thee 

To  give  me  secret  harbour,  hath  a  purpose 

Alore    grave    and    wrinkled    than    the    aims    and 

ends 
Of  burning  youth. 

Fri.  T.  May  your  Grace  speak  of  it? 

Duke.  My  holy  sir,  none  better  knows  than  you 
How  I  have  ever  loved  the  life  removed, 
And  held  in  idle  price  to  haunt  assemblies 
Where  youth,  and  cost,  and  witless  bravery  keeps.  lo 
I  have  deliver'd  to  Lord  Angelo, 
A  man  of  stricture  and  firm  abstinence, 
My  absolute  power  and  place  here  in  Vienna, 
And  he  supposes  me  travell'd  to  Poland ; 
For  so  I  have  strew'd  it  in  the  common  ear, 
And  so  it  is  received.     Now,  pious  sir, 
You  will  demand  of  me  why  I  do  this. 

Fri.  T.  Gladly,  my  lord. 

Duke.  We  have  strict  statutes  and  most  biting  laws. 

The  needful  bits  and  curbs  to  headstrong  weeds,      20 

Which  for  this  fourteen  years  we  have  let  slip ; 

Even  like  an  o'ergrown  lion  in  a  cave, 

That  goes  not  out  to  prey.     Now,  as  fond  fathers, 

Having  bound  up  the  threatening  twigs  of  birch, 

Only  to  stick  it  in  their  children's  sight 

For  terror,  not  to  use,  in  time  the  rod 

Becomes  more  mock'd  than  fear'd ;   so  our  decrees. 

Dead  to  infliction,  to  themselves  are  dead ; 

And  liberty  plucks  justice  by  the  nose ; 

The  baby  beats  the  nurse,  and  quite  athwart  30 

Goes  all  decorum. 

Fri.  T.  It  rested  in  your  Grace 

To  unloose  this  tied-up  justice  when  you  pleased : 

31 


Act  I.  Sc.  iv.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

And  it  in  you  more  dreadful  would  have  seem'd 
Than  in  Lord  Angelo. 
Duke.  I  do  fear,  too  dreadful : 

Sith  'twas  my  fault  to  give  the  people  scope, 
'Twould  be  my  tyranny  to  strike  and  gall  them 
For  what  I  bid  them  do :   for  w^e  bid  this  be  done, 
When  evil  deeds  have  their  permissive  pass, 
And   not   the   punishment.     Therefore,    indeed,   my 

father, 
I  have  on  Angelo  imposed  the  office ;  40 

Who  may,  in  the  ambush  of  my  name,  strike  home. 
And  yet  my  nature  never  in  the  fight 
To  do  in  slander.     And  to  behold  his  sway, 
I  will,  as  'twere  a  brother  of  your  order. 
Visit  both  prince  and  people :   therefore,  I  prithee, 
Supply  me  with  the  habit,  and  instruct  me 
How  I  may  formally  in  person  bear  me 
Like  a  true  friar.     Moe  reasons  for  this  action 
At  our  more  leisure  shall  I  render  you ; 
Only,  this  one  :   Lord  Angelo  is  precise ;  50 

Stands  at  a  guard  with  envy ;   scarce  confesses 
That  his  blood  flows,  or  that  his  appetite 
Is  more  to  bread  than  stone :  hence  shall  we  see. 
If  powder  change  purpose,  what  our  seemers  be. 

\Excunt. 

Scene  IV. 

A  nunnery. 

Enter  Isabella  and  Francisca. 

Isab.  And  have  you  nuns  no  farther  privileges? 
Fran.  Are  not  these  large  enough? 

32 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  I.  Sc.  iv. 

Isah.  Yes,  truly  :  I  speak  not  as  desiring  more ; 
But  rather  wishing  a  more  strict  restraint 
Upon  the  sisterhood,  the  votarists  of  Saint  Clare. 

Lucio.   [zvithin]   Ho !   Peace  be  in  this  place ! 

I  sab.  Who  's  that  which  calls  ? 

Fran.  It  is  a  man's  voice.     Gentle  Isabella, 

Turn  you  the  key,  and  know  his  business  of  him ; 

You  may,  I  may  not ;   you  are  yet  unsworn. 

When  you  have  vow'd,  you  must  not  speak  with  men 

But  in  the  presence  of  the  prioress  :  1 1 

Then,  if  you  speak,  you  must  not  show  your  face ; 

Or,  if  you  show  your  face,  you  must  not  speak. 

He  calls  again  ;   I  pray  you,  answer  him.  [Exit. 

Isah.  Peace  and  prosperity!     Who  is 't  that  calls? 

Enter  Lucio. 

Lucio.  Hail,  virgin,  if  you  be,  as  those  cheek-roses 
Proclaim  you  are  no  less !     Can  you  so  stead  me 
As  bring  me  to  the  sight  of  Isabella, 
A  novice  of  this  place,  and  the  fair  sister 
To  her  unhappy  brother  Claudio?  20 

Isah.  Why,  '  her  unhappy  brother  '  ?  let  me  ask 
The  rather,  for  I  now  must  make  you  know 
I  am  that  Isabella  and  his  sister. 

Lucio.  Gentle  and  fair,  your  brother  kindly  greets  you : 
Not  to  be  weary  with  you,  he  's  in  prison. 

Isah.  Woe  me !   for  what  ? 

Lucio.  For  that  which,  if  myself  might  be  his  judge, 
He  should  receive  his  punishment  in  thanks : 
He  hath  got  his  friend  with  child. 

Isah.  Sir,  make  me  not  your  story. 

Lucio.  It  is  true.  30 

22 


Act  I.  Sc.  iv.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

I  would  not — though  'tis  my  famiUar  sin 
With  maids  to  seem  the  lapwing,  and  to  jest, 
Tongue  far  from  heart — play  with  all  virgins  so: 
I  hold  you  as  a  thing  ensky'd  and  sainted ; 
By  your  renouncement,  an  immortal  spirit; 
And  to  be  talk'd  with  in  sincerity. 
As  with  a  saint. 

Isab.  You  do  blaspheme  the  good  in  mocking  me. 

LiiCio.  Do    not    believe    it.     Fewness    and    truth,     'tis 
thus : — 
Your  brother  and  his  lover  have  embraced :  40 

As  those  that  feed  grow  full, — as  blossommg  time, 
That  from  the  seedness  the  bare  fallow  brings 
To  teeming  foison, — even  so  her  plenteous  womb 
Expresseth  his  full  tilth  and  husbandry. 

Isah.  Some  one  with  child  by  him  ? — My  cousin  Juliet  ? 

Liicio.    Is  she  your  cousin  ? 

Isah.  Adoptedly ;   as  school-maids  change  their  names 
By  vain,  though  apt,  affection. 

Liicio.  She  it  is. 

Isah.  O,  let  him  marry  her. 

Liicio.  This  is  the  point. 

The  duke  is  very  strangely  gone  from  hence;        50 

Bore  many  gentlemen,  myself  being  one. 

In  hand,  and  hope  of  action :   but  we  do  learn 

By  those  that  know  the  very  nerves  of  state, 

His  givings-out  were  of  an  infinite  distance 

From  his  true-meant  design.     Upon  his  place. 

And  with  full  line  of  his  authority. 

Governs  Lord  Angelo ;  a  man  whose  blood 

Is  very  snow-broth ;   one  who  never  feels 

The  wanton  stings  and  motions  of  the  sense, 

But  doth  rebate  and  blunt  his  natural  edge  60 

34 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  I.  Sc.  iv. 

With  profits  of  the  mind,  study  and  fast. 

He — to  give  fear  to  use  and  Hberty, 

Which  have  for  long  run  by  the  hideous  law, 

As  mice  by  lions — hath  pick'd  out  an  act, 

Under  whose  heavy  sense  your  brother's  life 

Falls  into  forfeit :  he  arrests  him  on  it ; 

And  follows  close  the  rigour  of  the  statute, 

To  make  him  an  example.     All  hope  is  gone, 

Unless  you  have  the  grace  by  your  fair  prayer 

To  soften  Angelo :   and  that 's  my  pith  of  business 

'Twixt  you  and  your  poor  brother.  y\ 

Isab.  Doth  he  so  seek  his  life  ? 

Liicio.  Has  censured  him 

Already;    and,  as  I  hear,  the  provost  hath 
A  warrant  for  his  execution. 

Isah.  Alas  !  what  poor  ability  's  in  me 
To  do  him  good? 

Lucio.  Assay  the  power  you  have. 

Isah.  My  power  ?     Alas,  I  doubt, — 

Lucio.  Our  doubts  are  traitors, 

And  make  us  lose  the  good  we  oft  might  win 
By  fearing  to  attempt.     Go  to  Lord  Angelo, 
And  let  him  learn  to  know,  when  maidens  sue,        80 
Men   give    like    gods ;     but    when   they   weep    and 

kneel. 
All  their  petitions  are  as  freely  theirs 
As  they  themselves  would  owe  them. 

Isah.  I  '11  see  what  I  can  do. 

Lucio.  But  speedily. 

Isah.  I  will  about  it  straight : 

No  longer  staying  but  to  give  the  Mother 
Notice  of  my  affair.     I  humbly  thank  you : 

35 


Act  II.  Sc.  i.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

Commend  me  to  my  brother:   soon  at  night 
I  '11  send  him  certain  word  of  my  success. 

Lncio.  I  take  my  leave  of  you, 

Isab.  Good  sir,  adieu.  90 

[Exeunt. 

ACT  SECOND. 
Scene  I. 

A  hall  in  Angela's  house. 

Enter  Angela,  Escalus,  and  a  Justice,  Provost,  OMcers, 
and  other  Attendants,  behind. 

Ang.  We  must  not  make  a  scarecrow  of  the  law, 
Setting  it  up  to  fear  the  birds  of  prey. 
And  let  it  keep  one  shape,  till  custom  make  it 
Their  perch,  and  not  their  terror. 

Escal.  Ay,  but  yet 

Let  us  be  keen,  and  rather  cut  a  little. 
Than  fall,  and  bruise  to  death.     Alas,  this  gentleman, 
Whom  I  would  save,  had  a  most  noble  father ! 
Let  but  your  honour  know. 
Whom  I  believe  to  be  most  strait  in  virtue. 
That,  in  the  working  of  your  own  affections,         10 
Had  time  cohered  with  place  or  place  with  wishing, 
Or  that  the  resolute  acting  of  your  blood 
Could  have  attain'd  the  effect  of  your  own  purpose. 
Whether  you  had  not  sometime  in  your  life 
Err'd  in  this  point  which  now  you  censure  him, 
And  puU'd  the  law  upon  you. 

Ang.  'Tis  one  thing  to  be  tempted,  Escalus, 
Another  thing  to  fall.     I  not  deny, 

36 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  II.  Sc.  i. 

The  jury,  passing  on  the  prisoner's  life, 

May  in  the  sworn  twelve  have  a  thief  or  two  20 

Guiltier  than  him  they  try.     What 's  open  made  to 

justice, 
That  justice  seizes :   what  know  the  laws 
That  thieves  do  pass  on  thieves  ?     'Tis  very  pregnant, 
The  jewel  that  we  find,  we  stoop  and  take  't, 
Because  we  see  it ;  but  what  we  do  not  see 
We  tread  upon,  and  never  think  of  it. 
You  may  not  so  extenuate  his  offence 
For  I  have  had  such  faults ;  but  rather  tell  me, 
When  I,  that  censure  him,  do  so  offend, 
Let  mine  own  judgement  pattern  out  my  death,      30 
And  nothing  come  in  partial.     Sir,  he  must  die. 

EscaL  Be  it  as  your  wisdom  will. 

Aug.  Where  is  the  provost? 

Prov.  Here,  if  it  like  your  honour. 

Aug.  See  that  Claudio 

Be  executed  by  nine  to-morrow  morning : 
Bring  him  his  confessor,  let  him  be  prepared ; 
For  that  's  the  utmost  of  his  pilgrimage. 

[Exit  Provost. 

Escal.    [Aside]   Well,  heaven  forgive  him !    and  forgive 
us  all ! 
Some  rise  by  sin,  and  some  by  virtue  fall : 
Some  run  from  brakes  of  vice,  and  answer  none ; 
And  some  condemned  for  a  fault  alone.  40 

Enter  Elbozv,  and  Officers  zvith  Froth  and  Pompey. 

Elb.  Come,  bring  them  away :  if  these  be  good  peo- 
ple in  a  commonweal  that  do  nothing  but  use 
their  abuses  in  common  houses,  I  know  no  law : 
bring  them  away. 

37 


Act  II.  Sc.  i.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

Aug.  How  now,  sir!  What's  your  name?  and 
what 's  the  matter  ? 

Eib.  If  it  please  your  honour,  I  am  the  poor  Duke's 
constable,  and  my  name  is  Elbow :  I  do  lean 
upon  justice,  sir,  and  do  bring  in  here  before 
your  good  honour  two  notorious  benefactors.  50 

Aug.  Benefactors?  Well;  what  benefactors  are 
they  ?  are  they  not  malefactors  ? 

Elb.  If  it  please  your  honour,  I  know  not  well  what 
they  are :  but  precise  villains  they  are,  that  I  am 
sure  of ;  and  void  of  all  profanation  in  the  world 
that  good  Christians  ought  to  have. 

Escal.  This  comes  off  well ;   here  's  a  wise  officer. 

Aug.  Go  to :  what  quality  are  they  of  ?  Elbow  is 
your  name?   why  dost  thou  not  speak,  Elbow? 

Po)n.  He  cannot,  sir;   he  's  out  at  elbow.  60 

Aug.  What  are  you,  sir? 

Elb.  He,  sir!  a  tapster,  sir;  parcel-bawd;  one  that 
serves  a  bad  woman ;  whose  house,  sir,  was,  as 
they  say,  plucked  down  in  the  suburbs ;  and 
now  she  professes  a  hot-house,  which,  I  think,  is 
a  very  ill  house  too. 

EscaL  How  know  you  that  ? 

Elb.  My  wife,  sir,  whom  I  detest  before  heaven  and 
your  honour, — 

Escal.  How?  thy  wife?  70 

Elb,  Ay,  sir; — whom,  I  thank  heaven,  is  an  honest 
woman, — 

Escal.  Dost  thou  detest  her  therefore  ? 

Elb.  I  say,  sir,  I  will  detest  myself  also,  as  well  as 
she,  that  this  house,  if  it  be  not  a  bawd's  house, 
it  is  pity  of  her  life,  for  it  is  a  naughty  house. 

38 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  IL  Sc.  i. 

Escal.  How  dost  thou  know  that,  constable  ? 

Elb.  INIarry,  sir,  by  my  wife ;    who,  if  she  had  been 
a    woman    cardinally   given,    might   have   been 
accused  in  fornication,  adultery,  and  all  unclean-     80 
liness  there. 

Escal.  By  the  woman's  means  ? 

Elb.  Ay,  sir,  by  Mistress  Overdone's  means :   but  as 
she  spit  in  his  face,  so  she  defied  him. 

Pom.  Sir,  if  it  please  your  honour,  this  is  not  so. 

Elh.  Prove  it  before  these  varlets  here,  thou  honour- 
able man ;   prove  it. 

Escal.  Do  3'ou  hear  how  he  misplaces? 

Pom.  Sir,  she  came  in  great  with  child ;  and  long- 
ing, saving  your  honour's  reverence,  for  stewed  90 
prunes ;  sir,  we  had  but  two  in  the  house,  which 
at  that  very  distant  time  stood,  as  it  were,  in  a 
fruit-dish,  a  dish  of  some  three-pence ;  your 
honours  have  seen  such  dishes ;  they  are  not 
China  dishes,  but  very  good  dishes, — 

Escal.  Go  to,  go  to :   no  matter  for  the  dish,  sir. 

Pom.  No,  indeed,  sir,  not  of  a  pin ;  you  are  therein 
in  the  right :  but  to  the  point.  As  I  say,  this 
Mistress  Elbow,  being,  as  I  say,  with  child,  and 
being  great-bellied,  and  longing,  as  I  said,  for  100 
prunes ;  and  having  but  two  in  the  dish,  as  I 
said,  Master  Froth  here,  this  very  man,  having 
eaten  the  rest,  as  I  said,  and,  as  I  say,  paying 
for  them  very  honestly ;  for,  as  you  know,  Mas- 
ter Froth,  I  could  not  give  you  three-pence 
again. 

Froth.  No,  indeed. 

Pom.  Very   wxll; — you   being   then,    if   you   be    re- 

39 


Act  II.  Sc.  i.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

membered,  cracking  the  stones  of  the  foresaid 
prunes, —  no 

Froth.  Ay,  so  I  did  indeed. 

Pom.  Why,  very  well ;  I  telling  you  then,  if  you  be 
remembered,  that  such  a  one  and  such  a  one 
were  past  cure  of  the  thing  you  wot  of,  unless 
they  kept  very  good  diet,  as  I  told  you, — 

Froth.  All  this  is  true. 

Pom.  Why,  very  well,  then, — 

Escal.  Come,  you  are  a  tedious  fool :  to  the  purpose. 
What  was  done  to  Elbow's  wife,  that  he  hath 
cause  to  complain  of?     Come  me  to  what  was  120 
done  to  her. 

Pom.  Sir,  your  honour  cannot  come  to  that  yet. 

Escal.  No,  sir,  nor  I  mean  it  not. 

Pom.  Sir,  but  you  shall  come  to  it,  by  your  honour's 
leave.  And,  I  beseech  you,  look  into  ]\Iaster 
Froth  here,  sir;  a  man  of  fourscore  pound  a 
year  ;  whose  father  died  at  Hallowmas  : — was  't 
not  at  Hallowmas,  ^Master  Froth? — 

Froth.  All-hallond  eve. 

Pom.  Why,  very  well;    I  hope  here  be  truths.     He,   130 
sir,  sitting,  as  I  say,  in  a  lower  chair,  sir ;   'twas 
in  the  Bunch  of  Grapes,  where,  indeed,  you  have 
a  delight  to  sit,  have  you  not  ? 

Froth.  I  have  so ;  because  it  is  an  open  room,  and 
good  for  winter. 

Pom.  Why,  very  well,  then  ;  I  hope  here  be  truths. 

A  Jig.  This  will  last  out  a  night  in  Russia, 

When  nights  are  longest  there :  I  '11  take  my  leave, 

And  leave  you  to  the  hearing  of  the  cause ; 

Hoping  you  '11  find  good  cause  to  whip  them  all.  140 

^  40 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  IL  Sc.  i. 

Escal.  I  think  no  less.     Good  morrow  to  your  lordship. 

[Exit  Angela. 

Now,  sir,  come  on :   what  was  done  to  Elbow's 

wife,  once  more? 
Pom.  Once,  sir?  there  was  nothing  done  to  her  once. 
Elh,  I  beseech  you,  sir,  ask  him  what  this  man  did  to 

my  wife. 
Pom.  I  beseech  your  honour,  ask  me. 
Escal.  Well,  sir ;  what  did  this  gentleman  to  her  ? 
Pom.  I  beseech  you,  sir,  look  in  this  gentleman's  face. 

Good  Master  Froth,  look  upon  his  honour;    'tis  150 

for  a  good  purpose.     Doth  your  honour  mark 

his  face? 
Escal.  Ay,  sir,  very  well. 
Pom.  Nay,  I  beseech  you,  mark  it  well. 
Escal.  Well,  I  do  so. 

Pom.  Doth  your  honour  see  any  harm  in  his  face? 
Escal.  Why,  no. 
Pom.  I  '11  be  supposed  upon  a  book,  his  face  is  the 

worst  thing  about  him.     Good,  then  ;   if  his  face 

be  the  worst  thing  about  him,  how  could  Master  160 

Froth  do  the  constable's  wife  any  harm  ?  I  would 

know  that  of  3'our  honour. 
Escal.  He  's  in  the  right.   Constable,  what  say  you  to 

it? 
Elb.  First,  an  it  like  you,  the  house  is  a  respected 

house ;  next,  this  is  a  respected  fellow ;   and  his 

mistress  is  a  respected  woman. 
Po7n.  By  this  hand,  sir,  his  wife  is  a  more  respected 

person  than  any  of  us  all. 
Elb.  Varlet,  thou  liest ;  thou  best,  wicked  varlet !  the 

time  is  yet  to  come  that  she  was  ever  respected  170 

with  man,  woman,  or  child. 

41 


Act  II.  Sc.  i.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

Pom.  Sir,  she  was  respected  with  him  before  he 
married  with  her. 

Escal.  Which  is  the  wiser  here  ?  Justice  or  Iniquity  ? 
Is  this  true? 

Elb.  O  thou  caitiff !  O  thou  varlet !  O  thou  wicked 
Hannibal !  I  respected  with  her  before  I  was 
married  to  her!  If  ever  I  was  respected  with 
her,  or  she  with  me,  let  not  your  worship  think 
me  the  poor  Duke's  officer.  Prove  this,  thou  i8o 
wicked  Hannibal,  or  I  '11  have  mine  action  of 
battery  on  thee. 

Escal.  If  he  took  you  a  box  o'  th'  ear,  you  might  have 
your  action  of  slander  too. 

Elb.  Marry,  I  thank  your  good  worship  for  it.  What 
is  't  your  worship's  pleasure  I  shall  do  with  this 
wicked  caitiff? 

Escal.  Truly,  officer,  because  he  hath  some  offences 
in  him  that  thou  wouldst  discover  if  thou  couldst, 
let  him  continue  in  his  courses  till  thou  knowest  190 
what  they  are. 

Elh.  Marry,  I  thank  your  worship  for  it.  Thou  seest, 
thou  wicked  varlet,  now,  what 's  come  upon  thee  : 
thou  art  to  continue  now,  thou  varlet ;  thou  art 
to  continue. 

Escal.  Where  were  you  born,  friend  ? 

Froth.  Here  in  Vienna,  sir. 

Escal.  Are  you  of  fourscore  pounds  a  year  ? 

Froth.  Yes,  an  't  please  you,  sir. 

Escal.   So.     What  trade  are  you  of,  sir?  200 

Pom.  A  tapster ;  a  poor  widow's  tapster. 

Escal.  Your  mistress'  name? 

Pom.  Mistress  Overdone. 

42 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  II.  Sc.  i. 

Escal.  Hath  she  had  any  more  than  one  husband  ? 

Pom.  Nine,  sir ;   Overdone  by  the  last. 

Escal.  Nine!  Come  hither  to  me,  Master  Froth. 
Master  Froth,  I  would  not  have  you  acquainted 
with  tapsters  :  they  will  draw  you,  Master  Froth, 
and  you  will  hang  them.  Get  you  gone,  and  let 
me  hear  no  more  of  you.  210 

Froth.  I  thank  your  worship.  For  mine  own  part,  I 
never  come  into  any  room  in  a  taphouse,  but  I  am 
drawn  in. 

Escal.  Well,  no  more  of  it,  blaster  Froth :  farewell. 
[Exit  Froth.']  Come  you  hither  to  me,  Master 
tapster.     What 's  your  name.  Master  tapster  ? 

Pom.  Pompey. 

Escal.  What  else  ? 

Pom.  Bum,  sir. 

Escal.  Troth,  and  your  bum  is  the  greatest  thing  220 
about  you;  so  that,  in  the  beastliest  sense,  you 
are  Pompey  the  Great.  Pompey,  you  are  partly 
a  bawd,  Pompey,  howsoever  you  colour  it  in  be- 
ing a  tapster,  are  you  not?  come,  tell  me  true: 
it  shall  be  the  better  for  you. 

Pom.  Truly,  sir,  I  am  a  poor  fellow  that  would 
live. 

Escal.  How  would  you  live,  Pompey?  by  being  a 
bawd?  What  do  you  think  of  the  trade,  Pom- 
pey ?  is  it  a  lawful  trade  ?  230 

Pom.  If  the  law  would  allow  it,  sir. 

Escal.  But  the  law  will  not  allow  it,  Pompey;  nor 
it  shall  not  be  allowed  in  Vienna. 

Pom.  Does  your  worship  mean  to  geld  and  splay  all 
the  youth  of  the  city  ? 

43 


Act  II.  Sc.  i.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

Escal.  No,  Pompey. 

Pom.  Truly,  sir,  in  my  poor  opinion,  they  will  to  't, 
then.  If  your  worship  will  take  order  for  the 
drabs  and  the  knaves,  you  need  not  to  fear  the 
bawds. 

Escal.  There  are  pretty  orders  beginning,  I  can  tell  240 
you :   it  is  but  heading  and  hanging. 

Pom.  If  you  head  and  hang  all  that  offend  that  way 
but  for  ten  year  together,  you  '11  be  glad  to  give 
out  a  commission  for  more  heads :  if  this  law 
hold  in  Vienna  ten  year,  I  '11  rent  the  fairest 
house  in  it  after  three-pence  a  bay :  if  you  live  to 
see  this  come  to  pass,  say  Pompey  told  you  so. 

Escal.  Thank  you,  good  Pompey;  and,  in  requital 
of  your  prophecy,  hark  you :  I  advise  you,  let 
me  not  find  you  before  me  again  upon  any  com-  250 
plaint  whatsoever;  no,  not  for  dwelling  where 
you  do :  if  I  do,  Pompey,  I  shall  beat  you  to 
your  tent,  and  prove  a  shrewd  Caesar  to  you ;  in 
plain  dealing,  Pompey,  I  shall  have  you  whipt: 
so,  for  this  time,  Pompey,  fare  you  well. 

Pom.    I  thank  your  worship  for  your  good  counsel : 
[Aside]  but  I  shall  follow  it  as  the  flesh  and  for- 
tune shall  better  determine. 
Whip  me?     No,  no;   let  carman  whip  his  jade: 
The  valiant  heart 's  not  whipt  out  of  his  trade. 

[Exit. 

Escal.  Come   hither   to   me,    Master   Elbow:    come  261 
hither,  Master  constable.     How  long  have  you 
been  in  this  place  of  constable? 

Elb.  Seven  year  and  a  half,  sir. 

Escal.  I  thought,  by  your  readiness  in  the  office,  you 
had  continued  in  it  some  time.  You  say,  seven 
years  together? 

44 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  II.  Sc.  ii. 

Elh.  And  a  half,  sir. 

Escal.  Alas,  it  hath  been  great  pains  to  you.     They 

do  you  wrong  to  put  you  so  oft  upon  't :    are  270 

there  not  men  in  your  ward  sufficient  to  serve  it  ? 
Elh.  Faith,  sir,  few  of  any  wit  in  such  matters :   as 

they  are  chosen,  they  are  glad  to  choose  me  for 

them ;   I  do  it  for  some  piece  of  money,  and  go 

through  with  all. 
Escal.  Look  you  bring  me  in  the  names  of  some  six 

or  seven,  the  most  sufficient  of  your  parish. 
Elb.  To  your  worship's  house,  sir  ? 
Escal.  To  my  house.     Fare  you  well.   [Exit  Elbozv.] 

What 's  o'clock,  think  you  ?  280 

Just.  Eleven,  sir. 

Escal.  I  pray  you  home  to  dinner  with  me. 
Just.  I  humbly  thank  you. 
Escal.  It  grieves  me  for  the  death  of  Claudio ; 

But  there  's  no  remedy. 
Just.  Lord  Angelo  is  severe. 
Escal.  It  is  but  needful : 

Mercy  is  not  itself,  that  oft  looks  so ; 

Pardon  is  still  the  nurse  of  second  woe : 

But  yet, — poor  Claudio !     There  is  no  remedy. 

Come,  sir.  [Exeunt.     300 

Scene  II. 

Another  room  in  the  same. 

Enter  Provost  and  a  Servant. 

Serv.  He  's  hearing  of  a  cause ;   he  will  come  straight : 
I  '11  tell  him  of  you. 

45 


Act  II.  Sc.  ii.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

Prov.  Pray  you,  do.      [Exit  Servant.^ 

I  '11  know 
His  pleasure ;   may  be  he  will  relent.     Alas, 
He  hath  but  as  offended  in  a  dream  ! 
All  sects,  all  ages  smack  of  this  vice ;  and  he 
To  die  for  't ! 

Enter  Angela. 

Ang.  Now,  what 's  the  matter,  provost  ? 

Prov.  Is  it  your  will  Claudio  shall  die  to-morrow  ? 

Ang.  Did  not  I  tell  thee  yea  ?  hadst  thou  not  order  ? 

Why  dost  thou  ask  again  ? 
Prov.  Lest  I  might  be  too 'rash : 

Under  your  good  correction,  I  have  seen,  lo 

When,  after  execution.  Judgement  hath 

Repented  o'er  his  doom. 
Ang.  Go  to;   let  that  be  mine: 

Do  you  your  office,  or  give  up  your  place. 

And  you  shall  well  be  spared. 
Prov.  I  crave  your  honour's  pardon. 

W^hat  shall  be  done,  sir,  with  the  groaning  Juliet  ? 

She  's  very  near  her  hour. 
Ang.  Dispose  of  her 

To  some  more  fitter  place,  and  that  with  speed. 

Re-enter  Servant. 

Serv.  Here  is  the  sister  of  the  man  condemn'd 

Desires  access  to  you. 
Ang.  Hath  he  a  sister  ? 

Prov.  Ay,  my  good  lord  ;   a  very  virtuous  maid,  20 

And  to  be  shortly  of  a  sisterhood. 

If  not  already. 
Ang.  Well,  let  her  be  admitted.     [Exit  Servant. 

-     46 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  II.  Sc.  ii. 

See  you  the  fornicatress  be  removed : 

Let  her  have  needful,  but  not  lavish,  means ; 

There  shall  be  order  for  't. 

Enter  Isabella  and  Lucio. 

Prov.  God  save  your  honour ! 

Ang.  Stay  a  httle  while.  .   [To  Isah.'\     You  're  welcome: 

what 's  your  will  ? 
Isah.  I  am  a  woeful  suitor  to  your  honour, 

Please  but  your  honour  hear  me. 
Ang.  Well ;  what 's  your  suit  ? 

Isah.  There  is  a  vice  that  most  I  do  abhor, 

And  most  desire  should  meet  the  blow  of  justice ; 

For  which  I  would  not  plead,  but  that  I  must;        31 

For  which  I  must  not  plead,  but  that  I  am 

At  war  'twixt  will  and  will  not. 
Ang.  Well;  the  matter? 

Isab.  I  have  a  brother  is  condemn'd  to  die : 

I  do  beseech  you,  let  it  be  his  fault. 

And  not  my  brother. 
Prov.  [Aside]   Heaven  give  thee  moving  graces ! 

Ang.  Condemn  the  fault,  and  not  the  actor  of  it? 

Why,  every  fault 's  condemn'd  ere  it  be  done : 

Mine  were  the  very  cipher  of  a  function. 

To  fine  the  faults  whose  fine  stands  in  record,        40 

And  let  go  by  the  actor. 
Isab.  O  just  but  severe  law ! 

I  had  a  brother,  then. — Heaven  keep  your  honour! 
Lucio.   [Aside  to  Isab.]   Give  't  not  o'er  so :  to  him  again, 
entreat  him ; 

Kneel  down  before  him,  hang  upon  his  gown : 

You  are  too  cold ;  if  you  should  need  a  pin, 

47 


Act  II.  Sc.  ii.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

You  could  not  with  more  tame  a  tongue  desire  it : 

To  him,  I  say!  * 
Isah.  Must  he  needs  die  ? 
Ang,  Maiden,  no  remedy. 

Isah.  Yes ;   I  do  think  that  you  might  pardon  him, 

And  neither  heaven  nor  man  grieve  at  the  mercy.      50 
Ang.  I  will  not  do  't. 

Isab.  But  can  you,  if  you  would? 

Ang.  Look,  what  I  will  not,  that  I  cannot  do. 
Isah.  But  might  you  do  't,  and  do  the  world  no  wrong, 

If  so  your  heart  were  touch'd  with  that  remorse 

As  mine  is  to  him  ? 
Ang.  He  's  sentenced  ;  'tis  too  late. 

Liicio.    [Aside  to  Isah.'\   You  are  too  cold. 
Isah.  Too  late  ?  why,  no ;  I,  that  do  speak  a  word, 

May  call  it  back  again.     Well,  believe  this, 

No  ceremony  that  to  great  ones  'longs. 

Not  the  king's  crown,  nor  the  deputed  sword,        60 

The  marshal's  truncheon,  nor  the  judge's  robe, 

Become  them  with  one  half  so  good  a  grace 

As  mercy  does. 

If  he  had  been  as  you,  and  you  as  he. 

You  would  have  slipt  like  him ;  but  he,  like  you. 

Would  not  have  been  so  stern. 
Ang.  Pray  you,  be  gone. 

Isah.  I  would  to  heaven  I  had  your  potency. 

And  you  were  Isabel !   should  it  then  be  thus  ? 

No ;  I  would  tell  what  'twere  to  be  a  judge. 

And  what  a  prisoner. 
Lucio.    [Aside  to  Isab.]   Ay,  touch  him  ;  there  's  the  vein. 
Ang.  Your  brother  is  a  forfeit  of  the  law,  71 

And  you  but  waste  your  words. 

48 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  II.  Sc.  ii. 

Isah.  Alas,  alas ! 

Why,  all  the  souls  that  were  were  forfeit  once ; 
And  He  that  might  the  vantage  best  have  took 
Found  out  the  remedy.  How  would  you  be, 
If  He,  which  is  the  top  of  judgement,  should 
But  judge  you  as  you  are?  O,  think  on  that; 
And  mercy  then  will  breathe  within  your  lips. 
Like  man  new  made. 

Ang.  Be  you  content,  fair  maid ; 

It  is  the  law,  not  I  condemn  your  brother :  80 

Were  he  my  kinsman,  brother,  or  my  son, 

It  should  be  thus  with  him :  he  must  die  to-morrow. 

Isab.  To-morrow !     O,  that 's  sudden  !    Spare  him,  spare 
him! 
He  's  not  prepared  for  death.     Even  for  our  kitchens 
We  kill  the  fowl  of  season  :  shall  we  serve  heaven 
With  less  respect  than  we  do  minister 
To  our  gross  selves?     Good,  good  my  lord,  bethink 

you; 
Who  is  it  that  hath  died  for  this  offence  ? 
There  's  many  have  committed  it. 

Liicio.  [Aside  to  Isah.}   Ay,  well  said. 

Ang.  The  law  hath  not  been  dead,  though  it  hath  slept : 
Those  many  had  not  dared  to  do  that  evil,  91 

If  the  first  that  did  the  edict  infringe 
Had  answer'd  for  his  deed :  now  'tis  awake. 
Takes  note  of  what  is  done ;  and,  like  a  prophet. 
Looks  in  a  glass,  that  shows  what  future  evils. 
Either  now,  or  by  remissness  new-conceived. 
And  so  in  progress  to  be  hatch' d  and  born. 
Are  now  to  have  no  successive  degrees. 
But,  ere  they  live,  to  end. 

49 


Act  II.  Sc.  ii.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

Isah.  Yet  show  some  pity. 

Aug.  I  show  it  most  of  all  when  I  show  justice;  lOO 

For  then  I  pity  those  I  do  not  know, 
Which  a  dismiss'd  offence  would  after  gall ; 
And  do  him  right  that,  answering  one  foul  wrong. 
Lives  not  to  act  another.     Be  satisfied ; 
Your  brother  dies  to-morrow ;  be  content. 

Isah.  So  you  must  be  the  first  that  gives  this  sentence, 
And  he,  that  suffers.     O,  it  is  excellent 
To  have  a  giant's  strength ;  but  it  is  tyrannous 
To  use  it  like  a  giant. 

Lucio.    [Aside  to  Isab.'\     That's  well  said. 

Isah.  Could  great  men  thunder  no 

As  Jove  himself  does,  Jove  would  ne'er  be  quiet, 
For  every  pelting,  petty  officer 
Would  use  his  heaven  for  thunder. 
Nothing  but  thunder !     Merciful  heaven. 
Thou  rather  with  thy  sharp  and  sulphurous  bolt 
Split'st  the  unwedgeable  and  gnarled  oak 
Than  the  soft  myrtle :  but  man,  proud  man, 
Drest  in  a  little  brief  authority. 
Most  ignorant  of  what  he  's  most  assured. 
His  glassy  essence,  like  an  angry  ape,  120 

Plays  such  fantastic  tricks  before  high  heaven 
As  make  the  angels  weep  ;  who,  with  our  spleens, 
Would  all  themselves  laugh  mortal. 

Lucio.    {Aside  to  Isab.]   O,  to  him,  to  him,  wench !  he  will 
relent ; 
He  's  coming ;    I  perceive  't. 

Prov.  [Aside]   Pray  heaven  she  win  him ! 

Isab,  We  cannot  weigh  our  brother  with  ourself : 

Great  men  may  jest  with  saints ;   'tis  wit  in  them, 
But  in  the  less  foul  profanation. 

50 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  II.  Sc.  ii. 

Liicio.  Thou  'rt  i'  the  right,  girl ;   more  o'  that. 

Isah.  That  in  the  captain  's  but  a  choleric  word,  130 

Which  in  the  soldier  is  flat  blasphemy. 

Lucio.    [Aside  to  Isab.]   Art  avised  o' that ?  more  on 't. 

Ang.  Why  do  you  put  these  sayings  upon  me? 

Isab.  Because  authority,  though  it  err  like  others. 
Hath  yet  a  kind  of  medicine  in  itself. 
That  skins  the  vice  o'  the  top.     Go  to  your  bosom ; 
Knock  there,  and  ask  your  heart  what  it  doth  know 
That 's  like  my  brother's  fault :  if  it  confess 
A  natural  guiltiness  such  as  is  his. 
Let  it  not  sound  a  thought  upon  your  tongue  140 

Against  my  brother's  Hfe. 

Ang.  [Aside]    She  speaks,  and  'tis 

Such  sense,  that  my  sense  breeds  with  it.     Fare  you 
well. 

Isab.  Gentle  my  lord,  turn  back. 

Ang.  I  will  bethink  me ;   come  again  to-morrow. 

Isab.  Hark  how  I  '11  bribe  you  :  good  my  lord,  turn  back. 

Ang.  How?  bribe  me? 

Isab.  Ay,  with  such  gifts  that  heaven  shall  share  with  you. 

Lucio.    [Aside  to  Isab.]   You  had  marr'd  all  else. 

Isab.  Not  with  fond  sides  of  the  tested  gold, 

Or  stones  whose  rates  are  either  rich  or  poor        150 
As  fancy  values  them ;  but  with  true  prayers 
That  shall  be  up  at  heaven  and  enter  there 
Ere  sun-rise,  prayers  from  preserved  souls, 
From  fasting  maids  whose  minds  are  dedicate 
To  nothing  temporal. 

Ang.  Well ;  come  to  me  to-morrow. 

Lucio.    [Aside  to  Isab.]   Goto;   'tis  well;  away! 

Isab,  Heaven  keep  your  honour  safe ! 

51 


Act  II.  Sc.  ii.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

Aug.  [Aside]   Amen: 

For  I  am  that  way  going  to  temptation, 
Where  prayers  cross. 

Isab.  At  what  hour  to-morrow 

Shall  I  attend  your  worship  ? 

Ajtg.  At  any  time  'fore  noon.     i6o 

Isab.  'Save  your  honour! 

[EA-eiint  Isabella,  Liicio,  and  Provost. 

Aug.  From  thee, — even  from  thy  virtue ! 

What 's  this,  what 's  this  ?     Is  this  her  fault  or  mine  ? 
The  tempter  or  the  tempted,  who  sins  most  ? 
Ha! 

Not  she  ;  nor  doth  she  tempt :  but  it  is  I 
That,  lying  by  the  violet  in  the  sun. 
Do  as  the  carrion  does,  not  as  the  flower. 
Corrupt  with  virtuous  season.     Can  it  be 
That  modesty  may  more  betray  our  sense 
Than  woman's  lightness  ?     Having  waste  ground 

enough,  170 

Shall  we  desire  to  raze  the  sanctuary. 
And  pitch  our  evils  there  ?     O,  fie,  fie,  fie ! 
What  dost  thou,  or  what  art  thou,  Angelo  ? 
Dost  thou  desire  her  foully  for  those  things 
That  make  her  good  ?     O,  let  her  brother  live : 
Thieves  for  their  robbery  have  authority 
When  judges  steal  themselves.     What,  do  I  love  her. 
That  I  desire  to  hear  her  speak  again. 
And  feast  upon  her  eyes  ?     What  is  't  I  dream  on  ? 
O  cunning  enemy,  that,  to  catch  a  saint,  180 

With  saints  dost  bait  thy  hook !     Most  dangerous 
Is  that  temptation  that  doth  goad  us  on 
To  sin  in  loving  virtue :  never  could  the  strumpet, 

52 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  11.  Sc.  iii. 

With  all  her  double  vigour,  art  and  nature, 
Once  stir  my  temper  ;    but  this  virtuous  maid 
Subdues  me  quite.     Ever  till  now, 
When  men  were  fond,  I  smiled,  and  wonder'd  how. 

[Exit. 

Scene  III. 

A  room  in  a  prison, 

* 
Enter,  severally,  Duke  disguised  as  a  friar,  and  Provost. 

Duke.  Hail  to  you,  provost !  so  I  think  you  are. 

Prov.  I  am  the  provost.     What 's  your  will,  good  friar  ? 

Duke.  Bound  by  my  charity  and  my  blest  order, 
I  come  to  visit  the  afflicted  spirits 
Here  in  the  prison.     Do  me  the  common  right 
To  let  me  see  them,  and  to  make  me  know 
The  nature  of  their  crimes,  that  I  may  minister 
To  them  accordingly. 

Prov.  I  would  do  more  than  that,  if  more  were  needful. 

Enter  Juliet. 

Look,  here  comes  one  :  a  gentlewoman  of  mine,      lo 

Who,  falling  in  the  flaws  of  her  own  youth. 

Hath  blister'd  her  report :  she  is  with  child ; 

And  he  that  got  it,  sentenced  ;  a  young  man 

More  fit  to  do  another  such  offence 

Than  die  for  this. 
Dtike.  When  must  he  die? 
Prov.  As  I  do  think,  to-morrow. 

I  have  provided  for  you:  stay  awhile,        [To  Juliet. 

And  you  shall  be  conducted. 
Duke.  Repent  you,  fair  one,  of  the  sin  you  carry? 
Jul.  I  do ;  and  bear  the  shame  most  patiently.  20 

53 


Act  II.  Sc.  iv.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

Duke.  I  '11  teach  you  how  you  shall  arraign  your  con- 
science, 

And  try  your  penitence,  if  it  be  sound, 

Or  hollowly  put  on. 
Jut.  I  '11  gladly  learn. 

Duke.  Love  you  the  man  that  wrong'd  you  ? 
Jul.  Yes,  as  I  love  the  woman  that  wrong'd  him. 
Duke.  So,  then,  it  seems  your  most  offenceful  act 
*        Was  mutually  committed? 
Jul.  Mutually. 

Duke.  Then  w^as  your  sin  of  heavier  kind  than  his. 
Jul.  I  do  confess  it,  and  repent  it,  father. 
Duke.  'Tis  meet  so,  daughter :  but  lest  you  do  repent,  30 

As  that  the  sin  hath  brought  you  to  this  shame, 

Which  sorrow  is  always  toward  ourselves,  not  heaven, 

Showing  we  would  not  spare  heaven  as  we  love  it, 

But  as  we  stand  in  fear, — 
Jul.  I  do  repent  me,  as  it  is  an  evil, 

And  take  the  shame  with  joy. 
Duke.  There  rest. 

Your  partner,  as  I  hear,  must  die  to-morrow, 

And  I  am  going  with  instruction  to  him. 

Grace  go  with  you,  Benedicite!  {Exit. 

Jul.  Must  die  to-morrow  !     O  injurious  love,  40 

That  respites  me  a  life,  whose  very  comfort 

Is  still  a  dying  horror ! 
Prov.  'Tis  pity  of  him.  {Exeunt. 

Scene  IV. 

A  room  in  Angelo's  house. 
Enter  Angelo. 
Aug.  When  I  would  pray  and  think,  I  think  and  pray 

54 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  II.  Sc.  iv. 

To  several  subjects.     Heaven  hath  my  empty  words ; 
Whilst  my  invention,  hearing  not  my  tongue, 
Anchors  on  Isabel :   Heaven  in  my  mouth. 
As  if  I  did  but  only  chew  his  name ; 
And  in  my  heart  the  strong  and  swelling  evil 
Of  my  conception.     The  state,  whereon  I  studied. 
Is  like  a  good  thing,  being  often  read, 
Grown  fear'd  and  tedious ;   yea,  my  gravity, 
Wherein — let  no  man  hear  me — I  take  pride,         lo 
Could  I  with  boot  change  for  an  idle  plume. 
Which  the  air  beats  for  vain.     O  place,  O  form, 
How  often  dost  thou  with  thy  case,  thy  habit, 
Wrench  awe  from  fools,  and  tie  the  wiser  souls 
To  thy  false  seeming !     Blood,  thou  art  blood : 
Let 's  write  good  angel  on  the  devil's  horn ; 
'Tis  not  the  devil's  crest. 

Enter  a  Servant. 

How  now  !   who  's  there  ? 

Serv.  One  Isabel,  a  sister,  desires  access  to  you. 

Aug.  Teach  her  the  way.     O  heavens  ! 

Why  does  my  blood  thus  muster  to  my  heart,        20 

Making  both  it  unable  for  itself. 

And  dispossessing  all  my  other  parts 

Of  necessary  fitness  ? 

So  play  the  foolish  throngs  with  one  that  swoons ; 

Come  all  to  help  him,  and  so  stop  the  air 

By  which  he  should  revive :  and  even  so 

The  general  subject  to  a  well-wish'd  king 

Quit  their  own  part,  and  in  obsequious  fondness 

Crowd  to  his  presence,  where  their  untaught  love 

Must  needs  appear  offence. 

55 


Act  II.  Sc.  iv.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

Enter  Isabella. 

How  now,  fair  maid?     30 
Isab.  I  am  come  to  know  your  pleasure. 
Ang.  That  you  might  know  it,  would  much  better  please 
me 

Than  to  demand  what  'tis.     Your  brother  cannot  live. 
Isab.  Even  so. — Heaven  keep  your  honour ! 
Ang.  Yet  may  he  live  awhile ;  and,  it  may  be, 

As  long  as  you  or  I :   yet  he  must  die. 
Isab.  Under  your  sentence? 
Ang.  Yea. 
Isab.  When,  I  beseech  you  ?  that  in  his  reprieve, 

Longer  or  shorter,  he  may  be  so  fitted  40 

That  his  soul  sicken  not. 
Ajtg.  Ha !  fie,  these  filthy  vices  !     It  were  as  good 

To  pardon  him  that  hath  from  nature  stolen 

A  man  already  made,  as  to  remit 

Their  saucy  sweetness  that  do  coin  heaven's  image 

In  stamps  that  are  forbid :   'tis  all  as  easy 

Falsely  to  take  away  a  life  true  made. 

As  to  put  metal  in  restrained  means 

To  make  a  false  one. 
Isab.  'Tis  set  down  so  in  heaven,  but  not  in  earth.         50 
Ang.  Say  you  so  ?  then  I  shall  pose  you  quickly. 

Which  had  you  rather, — that  the  most  just  law 

Now  took  your  brother's  life ;   or,  to  redeem  him, 

Give  up  your  body  to  such  sweet  uncleanness 

As  she  that  he  hath  stain'd ! 
Isab.  Sir,  believe  this, 

I  had  rather  give  my  body  than  my  souk 
Ang.  I  talk  not  of  your  soul :   our  compell'd  sins 

Stand  more  for  number  than  for  accompt. 

56 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  II.  Sc.  iv. 

hah.  How  say  you? 

Ang.  Nay,  I  '11  not  warrant  that ;  for  I  can  speak 

Against  the  thing  I  say.     Answer  to  this  : —  6o 

I,  now  the  voice  of  the  recorded  law, 

Pronounce  a  sentence  on  your  brother's  life : 

Might  there  not  be  a  charity  in  sin 

To  save  this  brother's  hfe? 
Isah.  Please  you  to  do  't, 

I  '11  take  it  as  a  peril  to  my  soul, 

It  is  no  sin  at  all,  but  charity. 
Ang.  Pleased  you  to  do  't  at  peril  of  your  soul. 

Were  equal  poise  of  sin  and  charity. 
Isah.  That  I  do  beg  his  life,  if  it  be  sin, 

Heaven  let  me  bear  it !   you  granting  of  my  suit,    70 

If  that  be  sin,  I  '11  make  it  my  morn  prayer 

To  have  it  added  to  the  faults  of  mine. 

And  nothing  of  your  answer. 
Ang.  Xay,  but  hear  me. 

Your  sense  pursues  not  mine :    either  you  are  igno- 
rant, 

Or  seem  so,  craftily ;   and  that 's  not  good. 
Isah.  Let  me  be  ignorant,  and  in  nothing  good. 

But  graciously  to  know  I  am  no  better. 
Ang.  Thus  wisdom  wishes  to  appear  most  bright 

When  it  doth  tax  itself ;  as  these  black  masks 

Proclaim  an  enshield  beauty  ten  times  louder  80 

Than  beauty  could,  display'd.     But  mark  me ; 

To  be  received  plain,  I  '11  speak  more  gross : 

Your  brother  is  to  die. 
Isah.  So. 
Ang.  And  his  offence  is  so,  as  it  appears, 

Accountant  to  the  law  upon  that  pain. 
Isah.  True. 


Act  II.  Sc.  iv.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

Aug.  Admit  no  other  way  to  save  his  Hfe, — 
As  I  subscribe  not  that,  nor  any  other, 
But  in  the  loss  of  question, — that  you,  his  sister,       90 
Finding  yourself  desired  of  such  a  person. 
Whose  credit  with  the  judge,  or  own  great  place, 
Could  fetch  your  brother  from  the  manacles 
Of  the  all-building  law  ;  and  that  there  were 
No  earthly  mean  to  save  him,  but  that  either 
You  must  lay  down  the  treasures  of  your  body 
To  this  supposed,  or  else  to  let  him  suffer ; 
What  would  you  do? 

Isab.  As  much  for  my  poor  brother  as  myself : 

That  is,  were  I  under  the  terms  of  death,  100 

The  impression  of  keen  whips  I  'Id  wear  as  rubies. 
And  strip  myself  to  death,  as  to  a  bed 
That  longing  have  been  sick  for,  ere  I  'Id  yield 
My  body  up  to  shame. 

Aug.  Then  must  your  brother  die. 

Isab.  And  'twere  the  cheaper  way: 

Better  it  were  a  brother  died  at  once, 
Than  that  a  sister,  by  redeeming  him. 
Should  die  for  ever. 

Aug.  Were  not  you,  then,  as  cruel  as  the  sentence 

That  you  have  slander'd  so?  no 

Isab.  Ignomy  in  ransom  and  free  pardon 
Are  of  two  houses  :  lawful  mercy 
Is  nothing  kin  to  foul  redemption. 

Aug.  You  seem'd  of  late  to  make  the  law  a  tyrant; 
And  rather  proved  the  sliding  of  your  brother 
A  merriment  than  a  vice. 

Isab.  O,  pardon  me,  my  lord ;   it  oft  falls  out. 

To  have  what  we  would  have,  we  speak  not  what  we 
mean: 

58 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  II.  Sc.  iv. 

I  something  do  excuse  the  thing  I  hate, 

For  his  advantage  that  I  dearly  love.  120 

Ang.  We  are  all  frail. 
Isab.  Else  let  my  brother  die, 

If  not  a  feodary,  but  only  he 

Owe  and  succeed  thy  weakness. 
Ang.  Nay,  women  are  frail  too. 
Isab.  Ay,  as  the  glasses  where  they  view  themselves ; 

Which  are  as  easy  broke  as  they  make  forms. 

Women  ! — Help  Heaven !  men  their  creation  mar 

In  profiting  by  them.     Nay,  call  us  ten  times  frail ; 

For  we  are  soft  as  our  complexions  are, 

And  credulous  to  false  prints. 
Ang.  I  think  it  well:         130 

And  from  this  testimony  of  your  own  sex, — 

Since,  I  suppose,  we  are  made  to  be  no  stronger 

Than    faults    may    shake    our    frames, — let    me    be 
bold  ;— 

I  do  arrest  your  words.     Be  that  you  are, 

That  is,  a  woman  ;  if  you  be  more,  you  're  none ; 

If  you  be  one, — as  you  are  well  express'd 

By  all  external  warrants, — show  it  now, 

By  putting  on  the  destined  livery. 
Isab.  I  have  no  tongue  but  one :   gentle  my  lord. 

Let  me  entreat  you  speak  the  former  language.       140 
Aug.  Plainly  conceive,  I  love  you. 
Isab.'  My  brother  did  love  Juliet, 

And  you  tell  me  that  he  shall  die  for  it. 
Ang.  He  shall  not,  Isabel,  if  you  give  me  love. 
Isab,  I  know  your  virtue  hath  a  license  in  't, 

Which  seems  a  little  fouler  than  it  is, 

To  pluck  on  others. 

59 


Act  II.  Sc.  iv.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

Ang,  Believe  me,  on  mine  honour. 

My  words  express  my  purpose. 

Isab.  Ha !  little  honour  to  be  much  believed, 

And  most  pernicious  purpose ! — Seeming,  seeming ! — 
I  will  proclaim  thee,  Angelo ;  look  for 't:  151 

Sign  me  a  present  pardon  for  my  brother, 
Or  with  an  outstretch'd  throat  I  '11  tell  the  world 

aloud 
What  man  thou  art. 

Ang.  Who  will  believe  thee,  Isabel? 

My  unsoil'd  name,  the  austereness  of  my  life, 
My  vouch  against  you,  and  my  place  i'  the  state, 
Will  so  your  accusation  overweigh. 
That  you  shall  stifle  in  your  own  report. 
And  smell  of  calumny.     I  have  begun ; 
And  now  I  give  my  sensual  race  the  rein :  160 

Fit  thy  consent  to  my  sharp  appetite ; 
Lay  by  all  nicety  and  prolixious  blushes. 
That  banish  what  they  sue  for ;   redeem  thy  brother 
By  yielding  up  thy  body  to  my  will ; 
Or  else  he  must  not  only  die  the  death, 
But  thy  unkindness  shall  his  death  draw  out 
To  lingering  sufferance.     Answer  me  to-morrow. 
Or,  by  the  affection  that  now  guides  me  most, 
I  '11  prove  a  tyrant  to  him.     As  for  you. 
Say  what  you  can,  my  false  o'erweighs  your  true.  170 

[Exit. 

Isab.  To  whom  should  I  complain  ?     Did  I  tell  this. 
Who  would  believe  me?     O  perilous  mouths, 
That  bear  in  them  one  and  the  self-same  tongue, 
Either  of  condemnation  or  approof ; 
Bidding  the  law  make  court'sy  to  their  will : 
Hooking  both  right  and  wrong  to  the  appetite, 
60 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  III.  Sc.  i. 

To  follow  as  it  draws  !     I  '11  to  my  brother : 

Though  he  hath  falln  by  prompture  of  the  blood, 

Yet  hath  he  in  him  such  a  mind  of  honour, 

That,  had  he  twenty  heads  to  tender  down  i8o 

On  twenty  bloody  blocks,  he  'Id  yield  them  up, 

Before  his  sister  should  her  body  stoop 

To  such  abhorr'd  pollution. 

Then,  Isabel,  live  chaste,  and,  brother,  die: 

More  than  our  brother  is  our  chastity. 

I  '11  tell  him  yet  of  Angelo's  request, 

And  fit  his  mind  to  death,  for  his  soul's  rest.       [Exit. 

ACT  THIRD. 

Scene  I. 

'A  room  in  the  prison. 

Enter  Duke  disguised  as  before,  Claudio,  and  Provost. 

Duke.  So,  then,  you  hope  of  pardon  from  Lord  Angelo  ? 
Claud.  The  miserable  have  no  other  medicine 

But  only  hope : 

I  've  hope  to  live,  and  am  prepared  to  die. 
Duke.  Be  absolute  for  death  ;■  either  death  or  life 

Shall  thereby  be  the  sweeter.     Reason  thus  with  Hf e : 

If  I  do  lose  thee,  I  do  lose  a  thing 

That  none  but  fools  would  keep :   a  breath  thou  art. 

Servile  to  all  the  skyey  influences, 

That  dost  this  habitation,  where  thou  keep'st,  lo 

Hourly  afflict :  merely,  thou  art  death's  fool ; 

For  him  thou  labour' st  by  thy  flight  to  shun, 

And   yet  runn'st  toward  him   still.     Thou  art  not 
noble ; 

For  all  the  accommodations  that  thou  bear'st 

Ci 


Act  III.  Sc.  i.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

Are  nursed  by  baseness.     Thou  'rt  by  no  means    val- 
iant ; 
For  thou  dost  fear  the  soft  and  tender  fork 
Of  a  poor  worm.     Thy  best  of  rest  is  sleep, 
And  that  thou  oft  provokest ;  yet  grossly  fear'st 
Thy  death,  which  is  no  more.     Thou  art  not  thyself ; 
For  thou  exist'st  on  many  a  thousand  grains  20 

That  issue  out  of  dust.     Happy  thou  art  not; 
For  what  thou  hast  not,  still  thou  strivest  to  get, 
And  what  thou  hast,  forget'st.     Thou  art  not  certain  ; 
For  thy  complexion  shifts  to  strange  effects. 
After  the  moon.     If  thou  art  rich,  thou  'rt  poor ; 
For,  like  an  ass  whose  back  with  ingots  bows, 
Thou  bear'st  thy  heavy  riches  but  a  journey, 
And  death  unloads  thee.     Friend  hast  thou  none ; 
For  thine  own  bowels,  which  do  call  thee  sire. 
The  mere  effusion  of  thy  proper  loins,  30 

Do  curse  the  gout,  serpigo,  and  the  rheum. 
For  ending  thee  no  sooner.     Thou  hast  nor  youth  nor 

age, 
But,  as  it  were,  an  after-dinner's  sleep. 
Dreaming  on  both  ;   for  all  thy  blessed  youth 
Becomes  as  aged,  and  doth  beg  the  alms 
Of  palsied  eld  ;  and  when  thou  art  old  and  rich. 
Thou  hast  neither  heat,  affection,  limb,  nor  beauty. 
To  make  thy  riches  pleasant.     What 's  yet  in  this 
That  bears  the  name  of  life  ?     Yet  in  this  life 
Lie  hid  moe  thousand  deaths  :  yet  death  we  fear,    40 
That  makes  these  odds  all  even. 

Claud.  I  humbly  thank  you. 

To  sue  to  live,  I  find  I  seek  to  die; 
And,  seeking  death,  find  life :    let  it  come  on. 

Isab.    [Within]  What,  ho !     Peace  here ;   grace  and  good 


company ! 


62 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  III.  Sc.  i. 

Prov.  Who's  there?   come  in:   the 'wish  deserves  a  wel- 
come. 
Duke.  Dear  sir,  ere  long,  I  '11  visit  you  again. 
Claud.  Most  holy  sir,  I  thank  you. 

Enter  Isabella. 

Isab.  My  business  is  a  word  or  two  with  Claudio. 
Prov.  And  very  welcome.     Look,   signior,   here 's   your 

sister. 
Duke.  Provost,  a  word  with  you.  50 

Prov.  As  many  as  you  please. 

Duke.  Bring  me  to  hear  them  speak,  where  I  may  be  con- 
cealed. [Exeunt  Duke  and  Provost. 
Claud.  Now,  sister,  what 's  the  comfort  ? 
Isab.  Why, 

As  all  comforts  are ;  most  good,  most  good  indeed. 

Lord  Angelo,  having  affairs  to  heaven, 

Intends  you  for  his  swift  ambassador. 

Where  you  shall  be  an  everlasting  leiger : 

Therefore  your  best  appointment  make  with  speed ; 

To-morrow  you  set  on. 
Claud.  Is  there  no  remedy?  61 

Isab.  None,  but  such  remedy  as,  to  save  a  head, 

To  cleave  a  heart  in  twain. 
Claud.  But  is  there  any? 

Isab.  Yes,  brother,  you  may  live : 

There  is  a  devilish  mercy  in  the  judge, 

If  you  '11  implore  it,  that  will  free  your  life, 

But  fetter  you  till  death. 
Claud.  Perpetual  durance? 

Isab.  Ay,  just;  perpetual  durance,  a  restraint. 

Though  all  the  world's  vastidity  you  had, 

To  a  determined  scope. 

63 


Act  III.  Sc.  i.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

Claud.  But  in  what  nature?         70 

Isah.  In  such  a  one  as,  you  consenting  to  't, 

Would  bark  your  honour  from  that  trunk  you 

bear, 
And  leave  you  naked. 

Claud.  Let  me  know  the  point. 

Isah.  O,  I  do  fear  thee,  Claudio;   and  I  quake, 
Lest  thou  a  feverous  life  shouldst  entertain, 
And  six  or  seven  winters  more  respect 
Than  a  perpetual  honour.     Barest  thou  die  ? 
The  sense  of  death  is  most  in  apprehension ; 
And  the  poor  beetle,  that  we  tread  upon. 
In  corporal  sufferance  finds  a  pang  as  great  80 

As  when  a  giant  dies. 

Claud.  Why  give  you  me  this  shame  ? 

Think  you  I  can  a  resolution  fetch 
From  flowery  tenderness?     If  I  must  die, 
I  will  encounter  darkness  as  a  bride. 
And  hug  it  in  mine  arms. 

Isah.  There  spake  my  brother ;  there  my  father's  grave 
Did  utter  forth  a  voice.     Yes,  thou  must  die : 
Thou  art  too  noble  to  conserve  a  life 
In  base  appliances.     This  outward-sainted  deputy. 
Whose  settled  visage  and  deliberate  w^ord  90 

Nips  youth  i'  the  head,  and  follies  doth  emmew 
As  falcon  doth  the  fowl,  is  yet  a  devil ; 
His  filth  within  being  cast,  he  would  appear 
A  pond  as  deep  as  hell. 

Claud.  The  prenzie  Angelo ! 

Isah.  O,  'tis  the  cunning  livery  of  hell. 

The  damned'st  body  to  invest  and  cover 

In  prenzie  guards  ?     Dost  thou  think,  Claudio  ? — ■ 

If  I  would  yield  him  my  virginity, 

64 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  III.  Sc.  i. 

/ 

Thou  mightst  be  freed. 
Claud.  O  heavens!   it  cannot  be. 

Isab.  Yes,  he  would  give  't  thee,  from  this  rank  offence, 

So  to  offend  him  still.     This  night  's  the  time         loi 

That  I  should  do  what  I  abhor  to  name. 

Or  else  thou  diest  to-morrow. 
Claud.  Thou  shalt  not  do  't. 

Isab.  O,  were  it  but  my  life, 

I  'Id  throw  it  down  for  your  deliverance 

As  frankly  as  a  pin. 
Claud.  Thanks,  dear  Isabel. 

Isab.  Be  ready,  Claudio,  for  your  death  to-morrow. 
Claud.  Yes.  Has  he  affections  in  him, 

That  thus  can  make  him  bite  the  law  by  the  nose. 

When  he  would  force  it?     Sure,  it  is  no  sin ;  no 

Or  of  the  deadly  seven  it  is  the  least. 
Isab.  Which  is  the  least? 
Claud.  If  it  were  damnable,  he  being  so  wise. 

Why  w^ould  he  for  the  momentary  trick 

Be  perdurably  fined  ? — O  Isabel ! 
Isab.  What  says  my  brother  ? 

Claud.  Death  is  a  fearful  thing. 

Isab.  And  shamed  life  a  hateful. 
Claud.  Ay,  but  to  die,  and  go  we  know  not  where ; 

To  lie  in  cold  obstruction  and  to  rot ; 

This  sensible  warm  motion  to  become  120 

A  kneaded  clod  ;  and  the  delighted  spirit 

To  bathe  in  fiery  floods,  or  to  reside 

In  thrilling  region  of  thick-ribbed  ice ; 

To  be  imprison'd  in  the  viewless  winds. 

And  blown  with  restless  violence  round  about 

The  pendent  world ;   of  to  be  worse  than  worst 

65 


Act  III.  Sc.  i.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

Of  those  that  lawless  and  incertain  thought 

Imagine  howling: — 'tis  too  horrible! 

The  weariest  and  most  loathed  worldly  life 

That  age,  ache,  penury,  and  imprisonment  130 

Can  lay  on  nature  is  a  paradise 

To  what  we  fear  of  death. 
Isab.  Alas,  alas ! 
Claud.  Sweet  sister,  let  me  live : 

What  sin  you  do  to  save  a  brother's  life, 

Nature  dispenses  with  the  deed  so  far 

That  it  becomes  a  virtue. 
Isab.  O  you  beast ! 

0  faithless  coward !  O  dishonest  wretch ! 
Wilt  thou  be  made  a  man  out  of  my  vice  ? 
Is  't  not  a  kind  of  incest,  to  take  life 

From   thine  own   sister's   shame?     What   should   I 

think  ? 
Heaven  shield  my  mother  play'd  my  father  fair !    141 
For  such  a  warped  slip  of  wilderness 
Ne'er  issued  from  his  blood.     Take  my  defiance ! 
Die,  perish !     Might  but  my  bending  down 
Reprieve  thee  from  thy  fate,  it  should  proceed : 

1  '11  pray  a  thousand  prayers  for  thy  death. 
No  word  to  save  thee. 

Claud.  Nay,  hear  me,  Isabel. 

Isab.  O,  fie,  fie,  fie! 

Thy  sin  's  not  accidental,  but  a  trade. 

Mercy  to  thee  would  prove  itself  a  bawd :  150 

'Tis  best  that  thou  diest  quickly. 
Claud,  O,  hear  me,  Isabella ! 

Re-enter  Duke. 

Duke.  Vouchsafe  a  word,  young  sister,  but  one  word. 

66 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  III.  Sc.  i. 

Isah.  What  is  your  will? 

Duke.  Might  you  dispense  with  your  leisure,  I  would 
by  and  by  have  some  speech  with  you  :  the  satis- 
faction I  would  require  is  likewise  your  own 
benefit. 

Isah.  I  have  no  superfluous  leisure;  my  stay  must  be 
stolen  out  of  other  affairs ;  but  I  will  attend  you 
awhile.  [Walks  apart.   i6o 

Duke.  Son,  I  have  overheard  what  hath  passed  be- 
tween you  and  your  sister.  Angelo  had  never 
the  purpose  to  corrupt  her;  only  he  hath  made 
an  assay  of  her  virtue  to  practise  his  judgement 
with  the  disposition  of  natures :  she,  having  the 
truth  of  honour  in  her,  hath  made  him  that  gra- 
cious denial  which  he  is  most  glad  to  receive.  I 
am  confessor  to  Angelo,  and  I  know  this  to  be 
true;  therefore  prepare  yourself  to  death:  do 
not  satisfy  your  resolution  with  hopes  that  are  170 
fallible:  to-morrow  you  must  die;  go  to  your 
knees,  and  make  ready. 

Claud.  Let  me  ask  my  sister  pardon.  I  am  so  out  of 
love  with  life,  that  I  will  sue  to  be  rid  of  it. 

Duke.  Hold  you  there :  farewell.  [Exit  Claudio.'] 
Provost,  a  word  with  you ! 

Re-enter  Provost. 

Prov.  What 's  your  will,  father  ? 

Duke.  That  now  you  are  come,  you  will  be  gone. 
Leave  me  awhile  with  the  maid :  my  mind  prom- 
ises with  my  habit  no  loss  shall  touch  her  by  my 
company. 

Prov.  In  good  time. 

[Exit  Provost.     Isabella  conies  forzvard. 

67 


180 


Act  III.  Sc.  i.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

Duke.  The  hand  that  hath  made  you  fair  hath  made 
you  good :  the  goodness  that  is  cheap  in  beauty 
makes  beauty  brief  in  goodness  ;  but  grace,  being 
the  soul  of  your  complexion,  shall  keep  the  body 
of  it  ever  fair.  The  assault  that  Angelo  hath 
made  to  you,  fortune  hath  conveyed  to  my  un- 
derstanding ;  and,  but  that  frailty  hath  examples 
for  his  falling,  I  should  wonder  at  Angelo. 
How  will  you  do  to  content  this  substitute,  and  190 
to  save  your  brother? 

Isab.  I  am  now  going  to  resolve  him :  I  had  rather 
my  brother  die  by  the  law  than  my  son  should 
be  unlawfully  born.  But,  O,  how  much  is  the 
good  Duke  deceived  in  Angelo !  If  ever  he 
return  and  I  can  speak  to  him,  I  will  open  my 
lips  in  vain,  or  discover  his  government. 

Duke.  That  shall  not  be  much  amiss:  yet,  as  the 
matter  now  stands,  he  will  avoid  your  accusa- 
tion ;  he  made  trial  of  you  only.  Therefore  200 
fasten  your  ear  on  my  advisings :  to  the  love  I 
have  in  doing  good  a  remedy  presents  itself.  I 
do  make  myself  believe  that  you  may  most  up- 
righteously  do  a  poor  wronged  lady  a  merited 
benefit;  redeem  your  brother  from  the  angry 
law ;  do  no  stain  to  your  own  gracious  person ; 
and  much  please  the  absent  Duke,  if  peradven- 
ture  he  shall  ever  return  to  have  hearing  of  this 
business. 

Isab.  Let  me  hear  you  speak  farther.     I  have  spirit  210 
to  do  any  thing  that  appears  not  foul  in  the  truth 
of  my  spirit. 

Duke.  Virtue  is  bold,  and  goodness  never  fearful. 

68 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  III.  Sc.  i. 

Have  you  not  heard  speak  of  Mariana,  the  sis- 
ter of  Frederick  the  great  soldier  who  miscarried 
at  sea? 

Isab.  I  have  heard  of  the  lady,  and  good  words  went 
with  her  name. 

Duke.  She  should  this  Angelo  have  married;    was 

affianced  to  her  by  oath,  and  the  nuptial  ap-  220 
pointed  :  between  which  time  of  the  contract  and 
limit  of  the  solemnity,  her  brother  Frederick  was 
wrecked  at  sea,  having  in  that  perished  vessel 
the  dowry  of  his  sister.  But  mark  how  heavily 
this  befell  to  the  poor  gentlewoman :  there  she 
lost  a  noble  and  renowned  brother,  in  his  love 
toward  her  ever  most  kind  and  natural;  with 
him,  the  portion  and  sinew  of  her  fortune,  her 
marriage-dowry ;  with  both,  her  combinate  hus- 
band, this  well-seeming  Angelo.  230 

Isab.  Can  this  be  so  ?  did  Angelo  so  leave  her  ? 

Duke.  Left  her  in  her  tears,  and  dried  not  one  of 
them  with  his  comfort;  swallowed  his  vows 
whole,  pretending  in  her  discoveries  of  dishon- 
our :  in  few,  bestowed  her  on  her  own  lamenta- 
tion, which  she  yet  wears  for  his  sake ;  and  he,  a 
marble  to  her  tears,  is  washed  with  them,  but 
relents  not. 

Isab.  What  a  merit  were  it  in  death  to  take  this  poor 
maid  from  the  world !     What  corruption  in  this 
life,  that  it  will  let  this  man  live !     But  how  out  240 
of  this  can  she  avail? 

Duke.  It  is  a  rupture  that  you  may  easily  heal:  and 
the  cure  of  it  not  only  saves  your  brother,  but 
keeps  you  from  dishonour  in  doing  it. 

Isab.  Show  me  how,  good  father. 

69 


Act  III.  Sc.  i.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

Duke.  This  forenamed  maid  hath  yet  in  her  the  con- 
tinuance of  her  first  affection :  his  unjust  un- 
kindness,  that  in  all  reason  should  have 
quenched  her  love,  hath,  like  an  impediment  in 
the  current,  made  it  more  violent  and  unruly.  250 
Go  you  to  Angelo ;  answer  his  requiring  with  a 
plausible  obedience;  agree  with  his  demands  to 
the  point ;  only  refer  yourself  to  this  advantage, 
first,  that  your  stay  with  him  may  not  be  long; 
that  the  time  may  have  all  shadow  and  silence 
in  it ;  and  the  place  answer  to  convenience.  This 
being  granted  in  course, — and  now  follows  all, — 
we  shall  advise  this  wronged  maid  to  stead  up 
your  appointment,  go  in  your  place;  if  the  en- 
counter acknowledge  itself  hereafter,  it  may  260 
compel  him  to  her  recompence :  and  here,  by 
this,  is  your  brother  saved,  your  honour  un- 
tainted, the  poor  Mariana  advantaged,  and  the 
corrupt  Deputy  scaled.  The  maid  will  I  frame 
and  make  fit  for  his  attempt.  If  you  think  well 
to  carry  this  as  you  may,  the  doubleness  of  the 
benefit  defends  the  deceit  from  reproof.  What 
think  you  of  it? 

hah.  The  image  of  it  gives  me  content  already ;  and 
I  trust  it  will  grow  to  a  most  prosperous  per- 
fection. 270 

Duke,  It  lies  much  in  your  holding  up.  Haste  you 
speedily  to  Angelo :  if  for  this  night  he  entreat 
you  to  his  bed,  give  him  promise  of  satisfaction. 
I  will  presently  to  Saint  Luke's:  there,  at  the 
moated  grange,  resides  this  dejected  Mariana. 
At  that  place  call  upon  me;  and  dispatch  with 
Angelo,  that  it  may  be  quickly. 
70 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  III.  Sc.  ii. 

Isab.  I  thank  you  for  this  comfort.     Fare  you  well, 

good  father.  [Exeunt  severally. 


Scene  II. 

The  street  before  the  prison. 

Enter,  on  one  side,  Duke  disguised  as  before;    on  the 
other,  Elbow,  and  Officers  with  Pompey. 

Elb.  Nay,  if  there  be  no  remedy  for  it,  but  that  you 
will  needs  buy  and  sell  men  and  women  like 
beasts,  we  shall  have  all  the  world  drink  brown 
and  white  bastard. 

DuJ?e.  O  heavens!   what  stuff  is  here? 

Pom.  'Twas  never  merry  world  since,  of  two  usuries, 
the  merriest  was  put  down,  and  the  worser  al- 
lowed by  order  of  law  a  furred  gown  to  keep 
him  warm ;  and  furred  with  fox  and  lamb-skins 
too,  to  signify,  that  craft,  being  richer  than  inno-  lo 
cency,  stands  for  the  facing. 

Elb.  Come  your  way,  sir.  'Bless  you,  good  father 
friar. 

Duke.  And  you,  good  brother  father.  What  offence 
hath  this  man  made  you,  sir? 

Elb.  Marry,  sir,  he  hath  offended  the  law :  and,  sir, 
we  take  him  to  be  a  thief  too,  sir ;  for  we  have 
found  upon  him,  sir,  a  strange  picklock,  which 
we  have  sent  to  the  Deputy. 

Duke.  Fie,  sirrah!   a  bawd,  a  wicked  bawd!  20 

The  evil  that  thou  causest  to  be  done, 
That  is  thy  means  to  live.     Do  thou  but  think 
71 


Act  III.  Sc.  ii.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

What  'tis  to  cram  a  maw  or  clothe  a  back 

From  such  a  filthy  vice :  say  to  thyself, 

From  their  abominable  and  beastly  touches 

I  drink,  I  eat,  array  myself,  and  live. 

Canst  thou  believe  thy  living  is  a  life, 

So  stinkingly  depending?     Go  mend,  go  mend. 

Pom.  Indeed,  it  does  stink  in  some  sort,  sir ;  but  yet, 

sir,  I  would  prove —  30 

Duke.  Nay,  if  the  devil  have  given  thee  proofs  for 
sin. 
Thou  wilt  prove  his.     Take  him  to  prison,  officer : 
Correction  and  instruction  must  both  work 
Ere  this  rude  beast  will  profit. 

Elb.  He  must  before  the  Deputy,  sir;  he  has  given 
him  warning :  the  Deputy  cannot  abide  a  whore- 
master  :  if  he  be  a  whoremonger,  and  comes  be- 
fore him,  he  were  as  good  go  a  mile  on  his 
errand. 

Duke.  That  we  were  all,  as  some  would  seem  to  be,     40 
Free  from  our  faults,  as  faults  from  seeming  free ! 

Elb.  His  neck  will  come  to  your  waist, — a  cord,  sir. 

Pom.  I  spy  comfort ;  I  cry  bail.  Here  's  a  gentle- 
man and  a  friend  of  mine. 

Enter  Lucia. 

Lucio.  How  now,  noble  Pompey!  What,  at  the 
wheels  of  Caesar?  art  thou  led  in  triumph? 
What,  is  there  none  of  Pygmalion's  images, 
newly  made  woman,  to  be  had  now,  for  putting 
the  hand  in  the  pocket  and  extracting  it 
clutched?  What  reply,  ha?  What  sayest  thou  50 
to  this  tune,  matter  and  method?  Is 't  not 
drowned  i'  the  last  rain,  ha?  What  sayest  thou, 
Trot?     Is  the  world  as  it  was,  man?     Which 

72 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  Hi.  Sc.  li. 

is  the  way  ?     Is  it  sad,  and  few  w^ords  ?  or  how  ? 
The  trick  of  it? 

Duke.  Still  thus,  and  thus ;   still  worse ! 

Liicio.  How  doth  my  dear  morsel,  thy  mistress? 
Procures  she  still,  ha  ? 

Pom.  Troth,  sir,  she  hath  eaten  up  all  her  beef,  and 
she  is  herself  in  the  tub. 

Liicio.  Why,  'tis  good;   it  is  the  right  of  it;   it  must     60 
be  so :    ever  your  fresh  whore  and  your  pow- 
dered  bawd :    an   unshunned   consequence ;    it 
must  be  so.     Art  going  to  prison,  Pompey? 

Pom.  Yes,  faith,  sir. 

Liicio.  Why,  'tis  not  amiss,  Pompey.  Farewell :  go 
say  I  sent  thee  thither.  For  debt,  Pompey? 
or  how? 

Elh.  For  being  a  bawd,  for  being  a  bawd. 

Lucio.  Well,  then,  imprison  him :  if  imprisonment  be 

the  due  of  a  bawd,  why,  'tis  his  right :   bawd  is     70 
he  doubtless,  and  of  antiquity  too ;   bawd-born. 
Farewell,  good  Pompey.     Commend  me  to  the 
prison,  Pompey:    you  will  turn  good  husband 
now,  Pompey ;  you  will  keep  the  house. 

Pom.  I  hope,  sir,  your  good  worship  will  be  my  bail. 

Liicio.  No,  indeed,  will  I  not,  Pompey ;   it  is  not  the 
wear.     I  will  pray,   Pompey,  to  increase  your 
bondage :   if  you  take  it  not  patiently,  why,  your 
mettle    is    the    more.     Adieu,    trusty    Pompey.     80 
'Bless  you,  friar. 

Duke.  And  you. 

Lucio.  Does  Bridget  paint  still,  Pompey,  ha? 

Elh.  Come  your  ways,  sir;    come. 

7Z 


Act  III.  Sc.  ii.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

Pom.  You  will  not  bail  me,  then,  sir  ? 

Lucio,  Then,  Pompey,  nor  now.  What  news  abroad, 
friar?    what  news? 

Elh.  Come  your  ways,  sir ;  come. 

Lucio.  Go  to  kennel,  Pompey ;  go.      [Exeunt  Elbozv, 

Pompey  and  Officers.]     What  news,  friar,  of  the     90 
Duke? 

Duke.  I  know  none.     Can  you  tell  me  of  any  ? 

Lucio.  Some  say  he  is  with  the  Emperor  of  Russia; 
other  some,  he  is  in  Rome :  but  where  is  he, 
think  you  ? 

Duke.  I  know  not  where;  but  wheresoever,  I  wish 
him  well. 

Lucio.  It  was  a  mad  fantastical  trick  of  him  to  steal 
from  the  state,  and  usurp  the  beggary  he  was 
never  born  to.     Lord  Angelo  dukes  it  well  in  100 
his  absence  ;    he  puts  transgression  to  't. 

Duke.  He  does  w^ell  in  't. 

Lucio.  A  little  more  lenity  to  lechery  would  do  no 
harm  in  him :  something  too  crabbed  that  way, 
friar. 

Duke.  It  is  too  general  a  vice,  and  severity  must  cure 
it. 

Lucio.  Yes,  in  good  sooth,  the  vice  is  of  a  great  kin- 
dred; it  is  well  allied:  but  it  is  impossible  to 
extirp  it  quite,  friar,  till  eating  and  drinking  be  no 
put  down.  They  say  this  Angelo  was  not  made 
by  man  and  woman  after  this  downright  way  of 
creation :    is  it  true,  think  you  ? 

Duke.  How  should  he  be  made,  then? 

Lticio.  Some  report  a  sea-maid  spawned  him  ;  some, 
that  he  was  begot  between  two  stock-fishes.    But 

74 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  III.  Sc.  ii. 

it  is  certain  that,  when  he  makes  water,  his  urine 
is  congealed  ice ;  that  I  know  to  be  true :  and 
he  is  a  motion  generative ;   that 's  infalUble. 

Duke.  You  are  pleasant,  sir,  and  speak  apace.  120 

Lttcio.  Why,  what  a  ruthless  thing  is  this  in  him,  for 
the  rebellion  of  a  codpiece  to  take  away  the  life 
of  a  man !  Would  the  Duke  that  is  absent  have 
done  this?  Ere  he  would  have  hanged  a  man 
for  the  getting  a  hundred  bastards,  he  would 
have  paid  for  the  nursing  a  thousand :  he  had 
some  feeling  of  the  sport ;  he  knew  the  service, 
and  that  instructed  him  to  mercy. 

Duke.  I  never  heard  the  absent  Duke  much  detected 

for  women;   he  was  not  inclined  that  way.  130 

Lucio.  O,  sir,  you  are  deceived. 

Duke.  'Tis  not  possible. 

Lucio.  Who,  not  the  Duke?  yes,  your  beggar  of 
fifty;  and  his  use  was  to  put  a  ducat  in  her 
clack-dish  :  the  Duke  had  crotchets  in  him.  He 
would  be  drunk  too ;  that  let  me  inform  you. 

Duke.  You  do  him  wrong,  surely. 

Lucio.  Sir,  I  was  an  inward  of  his.  A  shy  fellow 
was  the  Duke :  and  I  believe  I  know  the  cause 
of  his  withdrawing.  140 

Duke.  What,  I  prithee,  might  be  the  cause? 

Lucio.  No,  pardon ;  'tis  a  secret  must  be  locked 
within  the  teeth  and  the  lips :  but  this  I  can  let 
you  understand,  the  greater  file  of  the  subject 
held  the  Duke  to  be  wise. 

Duke.  Wise !  why,  no  question  but  he  was. 

Lticio.  A  very  superficial,  ignorant,  unweighing  fel- 
low. 

75 


Act  III.  Sc.  ii.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

Duke.  Either  this  is  envy  in  you,  folly,  or  mista- 
king :  the  very  stream  of  his  life  and  the  business  150 
he  hath  helmed  must,  upon  a  warranted  need, 
give  him  a  better  proclamation.  Let  him  be  but 
testimonied  in  his  own  bringings-forth,  and  he 
shall  appear  to  the  envious  a  scholar,  a  statesman 
and  a  soldier.  Therefore  you  speak  unskilfully ; 
or  if  your  knowledge  be  more,  it  is  much  dark- 
ened in  your  malice. 

Lucio.  Sir,  I  know  him,  and  I  love  him. 

Duke.  Love  talks  with  better  knowledge,  and  knowl- 
edge with  dearer  love.  160 

Lucio.  Come,  sir,  I  know  what  I  know. 

Duke.  I  can  hardly  believe  that,  since  you  know  not 
what  you  speak.  But,  if  ever  the  Duke  return, 
as  our  prayers  are  he  may,  let  me  desire  you  to 
make  your  answer  before  him.  If  it  be  honest 
you  have  spoke,  you  have  courage  to  maintain 
it:  I  am  bound  to  call  upon  you;  and,  I  pray 
you,  your  name? 

Lucio.  Sir,  my  name  is  Lucio ;    well  known  to  the 

Duke.  170 

Duke.  He  shall  know  you  better,  sir,  if  I  may  live  to 
report  you. 

Lucio.  I  fear  you  not. 

Duke.  O,  you  hope  the  Duke  will  return  no  more ;  or 
you  imagine  me  too  unhurtful  an  opposite.  But, 
indeed,  I  can  do  you  little  harm ;  you  '11  for- 
swear this  again. 

Lucio.  I  '11  be  hanged  first :  thou  art  deceived  in  me, 
friar.  But  no  more  of  this.  Canst  thou  tell  if 
Claudio  die  to-morrow  or  no?  180 

76 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  III.  Sc.  ii. 

Duke.  Why  should  he  die,  sir  ? 

Lucio.  Why?  For  filling  a  bottle  with  a  tun-dish. 
I  would  the  Duke  we  talk  of  were  returned 
again :  this  ungenitured  agent  w^ill  unpeople  the 
province  with  continency ;  sparrows  must  not 
build  in  his  house-eaves,  because  they  are  lech- 
erous. The  Duke  yet  would  have  dark  deeds 
darkly  answered ;  he  would  never  bring  them  to 
light :  would  he  were  returned !  Marry,  this 
Claudio  is  condemned  for  untrussing.  Farewell,  190 
good  friar :  I  prithee,  pray  for  me.  The  Duke, 
I  say  to  thee  again,  would  eat  mutton  on  Fri- 
days. He  's  not  past  it  yet,  and  I  say  to  thee, 
he  would  mouth  with  a  beggar,  though  she  smelt 
brown  bread  and  garlic :  say  that  I  said  so. 
Farewell.  [ffxit. 

Duke.  No  might  nor  greatness  in  mortality 

Can  censure  'scape;   back-wounding  calumny 
The  whitest  virtue  strikes.     What  king  so  strong 
Can  tie  the  gall  up  in  the  slanderous  tongue  ? 
But  who  comes  here?  200 

Enter  Escahis,  Provost,  and  Officers  zvith  Mistress 
Overdone. 

Escal.  Go ;   away  with  her  to  prison ! 

Mrs  Ov.  Good  my  lord,  be  good  to  me ;  your  hon- 
our is  accounted  a  merciful  man ;  good  my  lord. 

Escal.  Double  and  treble  admonition,  and  still  forfeit 
in  the  same  kind!  This  would  make  mercy 
swear  and  play  the  tyrant. 

Prov.  A  bawd  of  eleven  years'  continuance,  may  it 
please  your  honour. 

77 


Act  III.  Sc.  ii.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

Mrs  Ov.  My  lord,  this  is  one  Lucio's  information  210 
against  me.  Mistress  Kate  Keepdown  was  with 
child  by  him  in  the  Duke's  time;  he  promised 
her  marriage :  his  child  is  a  year  and  a  quarter 
old,  come  Philip  and  Jacob :  I  have  kept  it  my- 
self; and  see  how  he  goes  about  to  abuse 
me! 

EscaL  That  fellow  is  a  fellow  of  much  license:  let 
him  be  called  before  us.  Away  with  her  to 
prison!  Go  to;  no  more  words.  \Excunt 
Officers  zvith  Mistress  Oz'.]  Provost,  my  brother  220 
Angelo  will  not  be  altered;  Claudio  must  die 
to-morrow :  let  him  be  furnished  with  divines, 
and  have  all  charitable  preparation.  If  my 
brother  wrought  by  my  pity,  it  should  not  be  so 
*  with  him. 

Prov.  So  please  you,  this  friar  hath  been  with  him, 
and  advised  him  for  the  entertainment  of  death. 

EscaL  Good  even,  good  father. 

Duke.  Bliss  and  goodness  on  you! 

EscaL  Of  whence  are  you  ?  230 

Duke.  Not  of  this  country,  though  my  chance  is  now 
To  use  it  for  my  time :   I  am  a  brother 
Of  gracious  o'rder,  late  come  from  the  See 
In  special  business  from  his  Holiness. 

EscaL  What  news  abroad  i'  the  world  ? 

Duke.  None,  but  that  there  is  so  great  a  fever  on 
goodness,  that  the  dissolution  of  it  must  cure  it : 
novelty  is  onl|^  in  request ;  and  it  is  as  danger- 
ous to  be  aged  in  any  kind  of  course,  as  it  is 
virtuous  to  be  constant  in  any  undertaking.  240 
There   is    scarce   truth    enough    alive   to   make 

78 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  III.  Sc.  ii. 

societies  secure;  but  security  enough  to  make 
fellowships  accurst: — much  upon  this  riddle 
runs  the  wisdom  of  the  world.  This  news  is 
old  enough,  yet  it  is  every  day's  news.  I  pray 
you,  sir,  of  what  disposition  was  the  Duke? 

Escal.  One  that,  above  all  other  strifes,  contended 
especially  to  know  himself. 

Duke.  What  pleasure  was  he  given  to? 

Escal  Rather  rejoicing  to -see  another  merry,  than  250 
merry  at  any  thing  which  professed  to  make  him 
rejoice:  a  gentleman  of  all  temperance.  But 
leave  we  him  to  his  events,  with  a  prayer  they 
may  prove  prosperous;  and  let  me  desire  to 
know  how  you  find  Claudio  prepared.  I  am 
made  to  understand  that  you  have  lent  him  visi- 
tation. 

Duke.  He  professes  to  have  received  no  sinister 
measure  from  his  judge,  but  most  willingly 
humbles  himself  to  the  determination  of  justice:  260 
yet  had  he  framed  to  himself,  by  the  instruction 
of  his  frailty,  many  deceiving  promises  of  life; 
which  I,  by  my  good  leisure,  have  discredited  to 
him,  and  now  is  he  resolved  to  die. 

Escal.  You  have  paid  the  heavens  your  function,  and 
the  prisoner  the  very  debt  of  your  calling.  I 
have  laboured  for  the  poor  gentleman  to  the  ex- 
tremest  shore  of  my  modesty:  but  my  brother 
justice  have  I  found  so  severe,  that  he  hath 
forced  me  to  tell  him  he  is  indeed  Justice.  270 

Duke.  If  his  own  life  answer  the  straitness  of  his 
proceeding,  it  shall  become  him  well ;  wherein 
if  he  chance  to  fail,  he  hath  sentenced  himself. 

79 


Act  III.  Sc.  ii.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

EscaL  I  am  going  to  visit  the  prisoner.     Fare  you 

well. 
Duke.  Peace  be  with  you !  [Exeunt  Escalus  and  Provost. 

He  who  the  sword  of  heaven  will  bear 

Should  be  as  holy  as  severe ; 

Pattern  in  himself  to  know, 

Grace  to  stand,  and  virtue  go ;  280 

More  nor  less  to  others  paying 

Than  by  self-offences  weighing. 

Shame  to  him  whose  cruel  striking 

Kills  for  faults  of  his  own  liking! 

Twice  treble  shame  on  Angelo, 

To  weed  my  vice  and  let  his  grow! 

O,  what  may  man  within  him  hide, 

Though  angel  on  the  outward  side ! 

How  may  likeness  made  in  crimes. 

Making  practice  on  the  times,  290 

To  draw  with  idle  spiders'  strings 

Most  ponderous  and  substantial  things ! 

Craft  against  vice  I  must  apply : 

With  Angelo  to-night  shall  lie 

His  old  betrothed  but  despised ; 

So  disguise  shall,  by  the  disguised, 

Pay  with  falsehood  false  exacting, 

And  perform  an  old  contracting.  [Exit. 


80 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  IV.  Sc.  i. 

ACT   FOURTH. 

Scene  I. 

The  moated  grange  at  St.  Luke's. 

Enter  Mariana  and  a  Boy. 

Boy  sings. 

Take,  O,  take  those  lips  away, 

That  so  sweetly  were  forsworn ; 
And  those  eyes,  the  break  of  day, 

Lights  that  do  mislead  the  morn : 
But  my  kisses  bring  again,  bring  again  ; 
Seals  of  love,  but  seal'd  in  vain,  seal'd  in  vain. 
A'lari.  Break  oif  thy  song,  and  haste  thee  quick  away : 
Here  comes  a  man  of  comfort,  whose  advice 
Hath  often  still'd  my  brawling  discontent. 

[Exit  Boy. 

Enter  Duke  disguised  as  before. 

I  cry  you  mercy,  sir;    and  well  could  wish  lo 

You  had  not  found  me  here  so  musical : 

Let  me  excuse  me,  and  believe  me  so. 

My  mirth  it  much  displeased,  but  pleased  my  woe. 

Duke.  'Tis  good ;   though  music  hath  oft  such  a  charm 
To  make  bad  good,  and  good  provoke  to  harm. 
I  pray  you,  tell  me,  hath  anybody  inquired  for 
me  here  to-day?    much  upon  this  time  have  I 
promised  here  to  meet. 

Mari.  You  have  not  been  inquired  after :   I  have  sat 

here  all  day.  20 

Enter  Isabella. 

Duke.  1    do   constantly   believe   you.     The   time   is 

81 


Act  IV.  Sc.  i.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

come  even  now.  I  shall  crave  your  forbearance 
a  little :  may  be  I  will  call  upon  you  anon,  for 
some  advantage  to  yourself. 

Mari.  I  am  always  bound  to  you.  [Exit. 

Duke.  Very  well  met,  and  well  come. 

What  is  the  news  from  this  good  Deputy? 

Isah,  He  hath  a  garden  circummured  with  brick. 
Whose  western  side  is  with  a  vineyard  back'd ; 
And  to  that  vineyard  is  a  planched  gate,  30 

That  makes  his  opening  with  this  bigger  key : 
This  other  doth  command  a  little  door 
Which  from  the  vineyard  to  the  garden  leads ; 
There  have  I  made  my  promise 
Upon  the  heavy  middle  of  the  night 
To  call  upon  him. 

Duke.  But   shall  you  on  your  knowledge  find  this 
wa\'  ? 

Isah.  I  have  ta'en  a  due  and  wary  note  upon  't : 
With  whispering  and  most  guilty  diligence. 
In  action  all  of  precept,  he  did  show  me  40 

The  way  twice  o'er. 

Duke.  Are  there  no  other  tokens 

Between  you  'greed  concerning  her  observance? 

Isah.  No,  none,  but  only  a  repair  i'  the  dark ; 

And  that  I  have  possess' d  him  my  most  stay 
Can  be  but  brief ;   for  I  have  made  him  know 
I  have  a  servant  comes  with  me  along. 
That  stays  upon  me,  whose  persuasion  is 
I  come  about  my  brother. 

Duke.  'Tis  well  borne  up. 

I  have  not  yet  made  known  to  Mariana 
A  word  of  this.     What,  ho !   within  !   come  forth ! 
82 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  IV.  Sc.  i. 

Re-enter  Mariana. 

I  pray  you,  be  acquainted  with  this  maid ;  51 

She  comes  to  do  you  good. 
Isab.  I  do  desire  the  like. 

Duke.  Do  you  persuade  yourself  that  I  respect  you? 
Mari.  Good  friar,  I  know  you  do,  and  have  found  it. 
Duke.  Take,  then,  this  your  companion  by  the  hand, 

Who  hath  a  story  ready  for  your  ear. 

I  shall  attend  your  leisure :  but  make  haste ; 

The  vaporous  night  approaches. 
Mari.  Will 't  please  you  walk  aside  ? 

[Exeunt  Mariana  and  Isabella. 
Duke.  O  place  and  greatness,  millions  of  false  eyes        60 

Are  stuck  upon  thee !    volumes  of  report 

Run  with  these  false  and  most  contrarious  quests 

Upon  thy  doings !   thousand  escapes  of  wit 

Make  thee  the  father  of  their  idle  dreams, 

And  rack  thee  in  their  fancies ! 

Re-enter  Mariana  and  Isabella. 

Welcome,  how  agreed  ? 
Isab.  She  '11  take  the  enterprise  upon  her,  father, 

If  you  advise  it. 
Duke.  It  is  not  my  consent, 

But  my  entreaty  too. 
Isab.  Little  have  you  to  say 

When  you  depart  from  him,  but,  soft  and  low, 

'  Remember  now  my  brother.' 
Mari.  Fear  me  not.         70 

Duke.  Xor,  gentle  daughter,  fear  you  not  at  all. 

He  is  your  husband  on  a  pre-contract : 

83 


Act  IV.  Sc.  ii.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

To  bring  you  thus  together,  'tis  no  sin, 
Sith  that  the  justice  of  your  title  to  him 
Doth  flourish  the  deceit.     Come,  let  us  go : 
Our  corn  's  to  reap,  for  yet  our  tilth  's  to  sow. 

[Exeunt. 

Scene  II. 

A  room  in  the  prison. 
Enter  Provost  and  Pompey. 

Prov.  Come  hither,  sirrah.  Can  you  cut  off  a  man's 
head? 

Pom.  If  the  man  be  a  bachelor,  sir,  I  can ;  but  if  he 
be  a  married  man,  he  's  his  wife's  head,  and  I  can 
never  cut  off  a  woman's  head. 

Prov.  Come,  sir,  leave  me  your  snatches,  and  yield 
me  a  direct  answer.  To-morrow  morning  are  to 
die  Claudio  and  Barnardine.  Here  is  in  our 
prison  a  common  executioner,  who  in  his  office 
lacks  a  helper:  if  you  will  take  it  on  you  to  lo 
assist  him,  it  shall  redeem  you  from  your  gyves ; 
if  not,  you  shall  have  your  full  time  of  imprison- 
ment, and  your  deliverance  with  an  unpitied 
whipping,  for  you  have  been  a  notorious  bawd. 

Pom.  Sir,  I  have  been  an  unlawful  bawd  time  out  of 
mind;  but  yet  I  will  be  content  to  be  a  lawful 
hangman.  I  would  be  glad  to  receive  some  in- 
struction from  my  fellow  partner. 

Prov.  What,   ho !    Abhorson !     Where  's  Abhorson, 

there  ?  20 

Enter  Abhorson. 

Abhor.  Do  you  call,  sir? 

84 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  IV.  Sc.  ii. 

Prov.  Sirrah,  here  's  a  fellow  will  help  you  to-mor- 
row in  your  execution.  If  you  think  it  meet, 
compound  with  him  by  the  year,  and  let  him 
abide  here  with  you ;  if  not,  use  him  for  the  pres- 
ent, and  dismiss  him.  He  cannot  plead  his  esti- 
mation with  you  ;  he  hath  been  a  bawd. 

Abhor.  A  bawd,  sir?  fie  upon  him!  he  will  discredit 
our  mystery. 

Proz'.  Go  to,  sir ;   you  weigh  equally ;   a  feather  will     30 
turn  the  scale.  [Exit. 

Pom.  Pray,  sir,  by  your  good  favour, — for  surely, 
sir,  a  good  favour  you  have,  but  that  you  have 
a  hanging  look, — do  you  call,  sir,  your  occupa- 
tion a  mystery  ? 

Abhor.  Ay,  sir;  a  mystery. 

Pom.  Painting,  sir,  I  have  heard  say,  is  a  mystery; 
and  your  whores,  sir,  being  members  of  my  oc- 
cupation, using  painting,  do  prove  my  occupa- 
tion a  mystery :  but  what  mystery  there  should  40 
be  in  hanging,  if  I  should  be  hanged,  I  cannot 
imagine. 

Abhor.  Sir,  it  is  a  mystery. 

Pom.  Proof? 

Abhor.  Every  true  man's  apparel  fits  your  thief :  if  it 
be  too  little  for  your  thief,  your  true  man  thinks 
it  big  enough;  if  it  be  too  big  for  your  thief 
your  thief  thinks  it  little  enough :  so  every  true 
man's  apparel  fits  your  thief. 

Re-enter  Provost. 

Prov.  Are  you  agreed?  50 

Pom.  Sir,  I  will  serve  him  ;   for  I  do  find  your  hang- 

85 


Act  IV.  Sc.  ii.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

man  is  a  more  penitent  trade  than  your  bawd; 

he  doth  oftener  ask  forgiveness. 
Prov.  You,  sirrah,  provide  your  block  and  your  axe 

to-morrow  four  o'clock. 
Abhor.  Come  on,  bawd;    I  will  instruct  thee  in  my 

trade;   follow. 
Pojn.  I  do  desire  to  learn,  sir:    and  I  hope,  if  you 

have  occasion  to  use  me  for  your  own  turn,  you 

shall  find  me  yare ;   for,  truly,  sir,  for  your  kind-     60 

ness  I  owe  you  a  good  turn. 
Prov.  Call  hither  Barnardine  and  Claudio  : 

[Exeunt  Pompey  and  Abhorson. 

The  one  has  my  pity;  not  a  jot  the  other. 

Being  a  murderer,  though  he  were  my  brother. 

Enter  Claudio. 

Look,  here  's  the  warrant,  Claudio,  for  thy  death : 

'Tis  now  dead  midnight,  and  by  eight  to-morrow 

Thou   must   be   made   immortal.     Where 's  Barnar- 
dine? 
Claud.  As  fast  lock'd  up  in  sleep  as  guiltless  labour 

When  it  lies  starkly  in  the  traveller's  bones : 

He  will  not  wake. 
Prov.  Who  can  do  good  on  him  ?  70 

Well,  go,  prepare  yourself.    [Knocking  zvithin.]   But, 
hark,  what  noise? 

Heaven  give  your  spirits  comfort !        [Exit  Claudio.] 
By  and  by. — 

I  hope  it  is  some  pardon  or  reprieve 

For  the  most  gentle  Claudio. 

Enter  Duke  disguised  as  before. 

Welcome,  father. 
Duke.  The  best  and  wholesomest  spirits  of  the  night 

86 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  IV.  Sc.  ii. 

Envelop  you,   good  Provost!     Who  call'd  here  of 
late? 
Prov.  None,  since  the  curfew  rung. 
Duke.  Not  Isabel  ? 
Prov.  No. 

Duke,  They  will,  then,  ere  't  be  long. 

Prov.  What  comfort  is  for  Claudio. 

Duke.  There  's  some  in  hope.  80 

Prov.  It  is  a  bitter  deputy. 
Duke.  Not  so,  not  so ;  his  Hfe  is  parallel'd 

Even  with  the  stroke  and  line  of  his  great  justice : 
He  doth  with  holy  abstinence  subdue 
That  in  himself  which  he  spurs  on  his  power 
To  qualify  in  others :  were  he  meal'd  with  that 
Which  he  corrects,  then  were  he  tyrannous ; 
But  this  being  so,  he  's  just.  [Knocking  within. 

Now  are  they  come. 

[Exit  Provost. 
This  is  a  gentle  provost :   seldom  when 
The  steeled  gaoler  is  the  friend  of  men.  90 

[Knocking  within. 
How   now !     what   noise  ?     That   spirit 's   possess'd 

with  haste 
That  wounds  the  unsisting  postern  with  these  strokes. 

Re-enter  Provost. 

Prov.  There  he  must  stay  until  the  officer 

Arise  to  let  him  in :   he  is  call'd  up. 
Duke.  Have  you  no  countermand  for  Claudio  yet, 

But  he  must  die  to-morrow  ? 
Prov.  None,  sir,  none. 

Duke.  As  near  the  dawning,  provost,  as  it  is, 

You  shall  hear  more  ere  morning. 

87 


Act  IV.  Sc.  ii.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

Prov.  Happily 

You  something  know ;   yet  I  believe  there  comes 
No  countermand ;  no  such  example  have  we :         lOO 
Besides,  upon  the  very  siege  of  justice 
Lord  Angelo  hath  to  the  public  ear 
Profess'd  the  contrary. 

Enter  a  Messenger. 

This  is  his  lordship's  man. 

Duke,  And  here  comes  Claudio's  pardon. 

Mes.  [Giving  a  paper]  My  lord  hath  sent  you  this 
note;  and  by  me  this  further  charge,  that  you 
swerve  not  from  the  smallest  article  of  it,  neither 
in  time,  matter,  or  other  circumstance.  Good 
morrow ;   for,  as  I  take  it,  it  is  almost  day. 

Prov.  I  shall  obey  him.  [Exit  Messenger,   no 

Duke,   [Aside]   This  is  his  pardon,  purchased  by  such  sin 
For  which  the  pardoner  himself  is  in. 
Hence  hath  ofifence  his  quick  celerity, 
When  it  is  borne  in  high  authority : 
When  vice  makes  mercy,  mercy  's  so  extended. 
That  for  the  fault's  love  is  the  offender  friended. 
Now,  sir,  what  news  ? 

Prov.  I  told  you.     Lord  Angelo,  belike  thinking  me 
remiss  in  mine  office,  awakens  me  with  this  un- 
wonted putting-on;    methinks  strangely,  for  he  120 
hath  not  used  it  before. 

Duke.  Pray  you,  let 's  hear. 

Prov.    [Reads] 

Whatsoever  you  may  hear  to  the  contrary,  let  Claudio 
be  executed  by  four  of  the  clock;    and  in  the 
afternoon  Barnardine:    for  my  better  satisfac- 
88 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  IV.  Sc.  ii. 

tion,  let  me  have  Claudio's  head  sent  me  by  five. 
Let  this  be  duly  performed ;  with  a  thought  that 
more  depends  on  it  than  we  must  yet  deliver. 
Thus  fail  not  to  do  your  office,  as  you  will  an- 
swer it  at  your  peril.  130 
What  say  you  to  this,  sir? 

Duke.  What  is  that  Bamardine  who  is  to  be  executed 
in  the  afternoon? 

Prov.  A  Bohemian  bom,  but  here  nursed  up  and 
bred ;  one  that  is  a  prisoner  nine  years  old. 

Duke.  How  came  it  that  the  absent  Duke  had  not 
either  delivered  him  to  his  liberty  or  executed 
him  ?     I  have  heard  it  was  ever  his  manner  to  • 
do  so. 

Proz'.  His  friends  still  wrought  reprieves  for  him:   140 
and,  indeed,  his  fact,  till  now  in  the  government 
of   Lord   Angelo,   came   not  to   an   undoubtful 
proof. 

Duke.  It  is  now  apparent  ? 

Prov.  Most  m.anifest,  and  not  denied  by  himself. 

Duke.  Hath  he  borne  himself  penitently  in  prison? 
how  seems  he  to  be  touched  ? 

Prov.  A  man  that  apprehends  death  no  more  dread- 
fully but  as  a  drunken  sleep ;   careless,  reckless, 
and  fearless  of  what 's  past,  present,  or  to  come ;  150 
insensible  of  mortality,  and  desperately  mortal. 

Ditke.  He  wants  advice. 

Prov.  He  will  hear  none :  he  hath  evermore  had  the 
liberty  of  the  prison  ;  give  him  leave  to  escape 
hence,  he  would  not :  drunk  many  times  a  day, 
if  not  many  days  entirely  drunk.  We  have  very 
oft  awaked  him,  as  if  to  carry  him  to  execution, 

89 


Act  IV.  Sc.  ii.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

and  showed  him  a  seeming  warrant  for  it:    it 
hath  not  moved  him  at  all. 

Duke.  More  of  him  anon.  There  is  written  in  your  i6o 
brow,  provost,  honesty  and  constancy :  if  I  read 
it  not  truly,  my  ancient  skill  beguiles  me ;  but, 
in  the  boldness  of  my  cunning,  I  will  lay  my  self 
in  hazard.  Claudio,  whom  here  you  have  war- 
rant to  execute,  is  no  greater  forfeit  to  the  law 
than  Angelo  who  hath  sentenced  him.  To  make 
you  understand  this  in  a  manifested  effect,  I 
crave  but  four  days'  respite ;  for  the  which  you 
are  to  do  me  both  a  present  and  a  dangerous 
courtesy.  170 

Proz'.  Pray,  sir,  in  what? 

Duke.  In  the  delaying  death. 

Prov.  Alack,  how  may  I  do  it,  having  the  hour  lim- 
ited, and  an  express  command,  under  penalty,  to 
deliver  his  head  in  the  view  of  Angelo?  I  may 
make  my  case  as  Claudio's,  to  cross  this  in  the 
smallest. 

Duke.  By  the  vow  of  mine  order  I  warrant  you,  if 
my  instructions  may  be  your  guide.  Let  this 
Barnardine  be  this  morning  executed,  and  his 
head  borne  to  Angelo.  180 

Prov.  Angelo  hath  seen  them  both,  and  will  discover 
the  favour. 

Duke.  O,  death  's  a  great  disguiser ;  and  you  may 
add  to  it.  Shave  the  head,  and  tie  the  beard; 
and  say  it  was  the  desire  of  the  penitent  to  be  so 
bared  before  his  death :  you  know  the  course  is 
common.  If  any  thing  fall  to  you  upon  this, 
more  than  thanks  and  good  fortune,  by  the  Saint 
whom  I  profess,  I  will  plead  against  it  with  my 
life. 

90 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  IV.  Sc.  ii. 

Prov.  Pardon  me,  good  father ;  it  is  against  my  oath.   190 

Duke.  Were    you    sworn    to    the    Duke,    or    to    the 
Deputy  ? 

Prov.  To  him,  and  to  his  substitutes. 

Duke,  You  will  think  you  have  made  no  offence,  if 
the  Duke  avouch  the  justice  of  your  dealing? 

Prov.  But  what  likelihood  is  in  that  ? 

Duke.  Not  a  resemblance,  but  a  certainty.  Yet  since 
I  see  you  fearful,  that  neither  my  coat,  integrity, 
nor  persuasion  can  with  ease  attempt  you,  I  will 
go  further  than  I  meant,  to  pluck  all  fears  out  200 
of  you.  Look  you,  sir,  here  is  the  hand  and 
seal  of  the  Duke:  you  know  the  character,  I 
doubt  not ;   and  the  signet  is  not  strange  to  you. 

Prov.  I  know  them  both. 

Duke.  The  contents  of  this  is  the  return  of  the  Duke : 
you  shall  anon  over-read  it  at  your  pleasure; 
where  you  shall  find,  within  these  two  days  he 
will  be  here.  This  is  a  thing  that  Angelo  knows 
not;  for  he  this  very  day  receives  letters  of 
strange  tenour;  perchance  of  the  Duke's  death;  210 
perchance  entering  into  some  monastery;  but, 
by  chance,  nothing  of  what  is  writ.  Look,  the 
unfolding  star  calls  up  the  shepherd.  Put  not 
yourself  into  amazement  how  these  things 
should  be :  all  difficulties  are  but  easy  when  they 
are  known.  Call  your  executioner,  and  off  with 
Barnardine's  head:  I  will  give  him  a  present 
shrift  and  advise  him  for  a  better  place.  Yet 
you  are  amazed  ;*but  this  shall  absolutely  resolve 
you.     Come  away  ;  it  is  almost  clear  dawn.  220 

[Exeunt. 


91 


Act  IV.  Sc.iii.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

Scene  III. 

Another  room  in  the  same. 

Enter  Pompey. 

Pom.  I  am  as  well  acquainted  here  as  I  was  in  our 
house  of  profession :  one  would  think  it  were 
Mistress  Overdone's  own  house,  for  here  be 
many  of  her  old  customers.  First,  here  's  young 
Master  Rash ;  he  's  in  for  a  commodity  of  brown 
paper  and  old  ginger,  nine-score  and  seventeen 
pounds ;  of  which  he  made  five  marks,  ready 
money :  marry,  then  ginger  was  not  much  in 
request,  for  the  old  women  were  all  dead.  Then 
is  there  here  one  Master  Caper,  at  the  suit  of  lo 
Master  Three-pile  the  mercer,  for  some  four 
suits  of  peach-coloured  satin,  which  now  peaches 
him  a  beggar.  Then  have  we  here  young  Dizy, 
and  young  Master  Deep-vow,  and  Master  Cop- 
per-spur, and  Master  Starve-lackey  the  rapier 
and  dagger  man,  and  young  Drop-heir  that 
killed  lusty  Pudding,  and  Master  Forthlight  the 
tilter,  and  brave  Master  Shooty  the  great  travel- 
ler, and  wild  Half-can  that  stabbed  Pots,  and,  I 
think,  forty  more ;  all  great  doers  in  our  trade,  20 
,  and  are  now  '  for  the  Lord's  sake.' 

I 
Enter  Abhor  son. 

Abhor.  Sirrah,  bring  Barnardine  Mther. 

Pom.  Master   Barnardine!    you   must    rise   and   be 

hanged.  Master  Barnardine ! 
y4&/jon^What,  ho,  Barnardine! 

Q2 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  IV.  Sc.  iii. 

Bar.   [Within]   A  pox  o'  your  throats!    Who  makes 

that  noise  there?     What  are  you? 
Pojji.  Your  friends,  sir;    the  hangman.     You  must 

be  so  good,  sir,  to  rise  and  be  put  to  death. 
Bar.   [Within]   Away,    you    rogue,    away!     I    am 

sleepy.  30 

Abhor.  Tell  him  he  must  awake,  and  that  quickly 

too. 
Pom.  Pray,  Master  Bamardine,  awake  till  you  are 

executed,  and  sleep  afterwards. 
Abhor.  Go  in  to  him,  and  fetch  him  out. 
Pom.  He  is  coming,  sir,  he  is  coming;    I  hear  his 

straw  rustle. 
Abhor.  Is  the  axe  upon  the  block,  sirrah? 
Pom.  Very  ready,  sir. 

Enter  Bamardine. 

Bar.  How  now,  Abhorson  ?    what 's  the  news  with 

you  ?  40 

Abhor.  Truly,  sir,  I  would  desire  you  to  clap  into 

your  prayers  ;    for,  look  you,  the  warrant 's  come. 
Bar.  You  rogue,  I  have  been  drinking  all  night;    I 

am  not  fitted  for  't. 
Pom.  O,  the  better,  sir ;   for  he  that  drinks  all  night, 

and  is  hanged  betimes  in  the  morning,  may  sleep 

the  sounder  all  the  next  day. 
Abhor.  Look    you,    sir;    here    comes    your    ghostly 

father:   do  we  jest  now,  think  you? 

Enter  Duke  disguised  as  before. 

Duke.  Sir,  induced  by,  my  charity,  and  hearing  how     50 
hastily  you  are  to  depart,  I  am  come  to  advise 
you,  comfort  you  and  pray  with  you. 

Bar.  Friar,  not  I :    I  have  been  drinking  hard  all 

93 


Act  IV.  Sc.  iii.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

night,  and  I  will  have  more  time  to  prepare  me, 
or  they  shall  beat  out  my  brains  with  billets :  I 
will  not  consent  to  die  this  day,  that 's  certain. 

Duke.  O,  sir,  you  must :  and  therefore  I  beseech  you 
Look  forward  on  the  journey  you  shall  go. 

Bar.  I  swear  I  will  not  die  to-day  for  any  man's     60 
persuasion, 

Duke.  But  hear  you. 

Bar.  Not  a  word :  if  you  have  any  thing  to  say  to 
me,  come  to  my  ward;  for  thence  will  not  I 
to-day.  [Exit. 

Duke.  Unfit  to  live  or  die :  O  gravel  heart ! 

After  him,  fellows ;  bring  him  to  the  block. 

[Exeunt  Abhorson  andPompey, 

Enter  Provost. 

Prov.  Now,  sir,  how  do  you  find  the  prisoner? 

Duke.  A  creature  unprepared,  unmeet  for  death; 

And  to  transport  him  in  the  mind  he  is  70 

Were  damnable. 

Prov.  Here  in  the  prison,  father. 

There  died  this  morning  of  a  cruel  fever 
One  Ragozine,  a  most  notorious  pirate, 
A  man  of  Claudio's  years ;  his  beard  and  head 
Just  of  his  colour.  What  if  we  do  omit 
This  reprobate  till  he  were  well  inclined ; 
And  satisfy  the  Deputy  with  the  visage 
Of  Ragozine,  more  like  to  Claudio? 

Duke.  O,  'tis  an  accident  that  heaven  provides ! 

Dispatch  it  presently ;   the  hour  draws  on  80 

Prefix'd  by  Angelo :   see  this  be  done, 

94 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  IV.  Sc.  iii. 

And  sent  according  to  command ;   whiles  I 
Persuade  this  rude  wretch  wilHngly  to  die. 

Prov.  This  shall  be  done,  good  father,  presently. 
But  Barnardine  must  die  this  afternoon : 
And  how  shall  we  continue  Claudio, 
To  save  me  from  the  danger  that  might  come 
If  he  were  known  alive  ? 

Duke.  Let  this  be  done. 

Put    them    in    secret    holds,    both    Barnardine    and 

Claudio : 
Ere  twice  the  sun  hath  made  his  journal  greeting  90 
To  the  under  generation,  you  shall  find 
Your  safety  manifested. 

Pvov.  I  am  your  free  dependant. 

Duke.  Quick,  dispatch,  and  send  the  head  to  Angelo. 

[Exit  Provost. 
Now  will  I  write  letters  to  Angelo, — 
The  provost,  he  shall  bear  them, — whose  contents 
Shall  witness  to  him  I  am  near  at  home. 
And  that,  by  great  injunctions,  I  am  bound 
To  enter  publicly :   him  I  '11  desire 
To  meet  me  at  the  consecrated  fount,  lOO 

A  league  below  the  city ;  and  from  thence, 
By  cold  gradation  and  well-balanced  form, 
We  shall  proceed  with  Angelo. 

Re-enter  Provost. 

Prov.  Here  Is  the  head ;  I  '11  carry  it  myself. 
Duke.    Convenient  is  it.     Make  a  swift  return  ; 

For  I  would  commune  with  you  of  such  things 

That  want  no  ear  but  yours, 
Prov.  I  '11  make  all  speed.      [Exit. 

Isah.   [Within]   Peace,  ho,  be  here! 

95 


Act  IV.  Sc.  iii.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

Duke.  The  tongue  of  Isabel.     She  's  come  to  know 

If  yet  her  brother's  pardon  be  come  hither :  i  lo 

But  I  will  keep  her  ignorant  of  her  good, 
To  make  her  heavenly  comforts  of  despair, 
When  it  is  least  expected. 

Enter  Isabella. 

Isah.  Ho,  by  your  leave! 

Duke.  Good  morning  to  you,  fair  and  gracious  daugh- 
ter. 
Isah.  The  better,  given  me  by  so  holy  a  man. 

Hath  yet  the  Deputy  sent  my  brother's  pardon? 
Duke.  He  hath  released  him,  Isabel,  from  the  world : 

His  head  is  off,  and  sent  to  Angelo. 
Isah.  Nay,  but  it  is  not  so. 
Duke.  It  is  no  other:  show  your  wisdom,  daughter,     120 

In  your  close  patience. 
Isah,  O,  I  will  to  him  and  pluck  out  his  eyes ! 
Duke.  You  shall  not  be  admitted  to  his  sight. 
Isah.  Unhappy  Claudio !   wretched  Isabel ! 

Injurious  world!   most  damned  Angelo! 
Duke.  This  nor  hurts  him  nor  profits  you  a  jot: 

Forbear  it  therefore ;   give  your  cause  to  heaven. 

^lark  what  I  say,  which  you  shall  find 

By  every  syllable  a  faithful  verity : 

The  Duke  comes  home  to-morrow ; — nay,  dry  your 
eyes;  '  130 

One  of  our  covent,  and  his  confessor. 

Gives  me  this  instance :  already  he  hath  carried 

Notice  to  Escalus  and  Angelo ; 

Who  do  prepare  to  meet  him  at  the  gates, 

There  to  give  up  their  power.     If  you  can,  pace  your 
wisdom 

96 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  IV.  Sc.  iii. 

In  that  good  path  that  I  would  wish  it  go ; 
And  you  shall  have  your  bosom  on  this  wretch, 
Grace  of  the  Duke,  revenges  to  your  heart. 
And  general  honour. 

Isab.  I  am  directed  by  you. 

Duke.  This  letter,  then,  to  Friar  Peter  give :  140 

'Tis  that  he  sent  me  of  the  Duke's  return : 
Say,  by  this  token,  I  desire  his  company 
At  Mariana's  house  to-night.     Her  cause  and  yours 
I  '11  perfect  him  withal ;  and  he  shall  bring  you 
Before  the  Duke ;  and  to  the  head  of  Angelo 
Accuse  him  home  and  home.     For  my  poor  self, 
I  am  combined  by  a  sacred  vow, 
And  shall  be  absent.     Wend  you  with  this  letter : 
Command  these  fretting  waters  from  your  eyes 
With  a  light  heart;   trust  not  my  holy  order,        150 
If  I  pervert  your  course. — Who's  here? 

Enter  Lucio, 

Liicio.  Good  even.     Friar,  where 's  the  provost? 

Duke.  Not  within,  sir. 

Lucio.  O  pretty  Isabella,  I  am  pale  at  mine  heart  to 
see  thine  eyes  so  red :  thou  must  be  patient.  I 
am  fain  to  dine  and  sup  with  water  and  bran ; 
I  dare  not  for  my  head  fill  my  belly ;  one  fruit- 
ful meal  would  set  me  to  't.  But  they  say  the 
Duke  will  be  here  to-morrow.  By  my  troth, 
Isabel,  I  loved  thy  brother:  if  the  old  fantasti-  160 
cal  Duke  of  dark  corners  had  been  at  home,  he 
had  lived.  [Exit  Isabella. 

Duke.  Sir,  the  Duke  is  marvellous  little  beholding  to 
your  reports;  but  the  best  is,  he  lives  not  in 
them. 

97 


Act  IV.  Sc.  iv.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

Lncio.  Friar,  thou  knowest  not  the  Duke  so  well  as 
I  do :  he  's  a  better  woodman  than  thou  takest 
him  for. 

Duke.  Well,  you  '11  answer  this  one  day.  Fare  ye 
well. 

Liicio.  Nay,  tarry;    I'll  go  along  with  thee:    I  can  170 
tell  thee  pretty  tales  of  the  Duke. 

Duke.  You  have  told  me  too  many  of  him  already, 
sir,  if  they  be  true;  if  not  true,  none  were 
enough. 

Lucio.  I  was  once  before  him  for  getting  a  wench 
with  child. 

Duke.  Did  you  such  a  thing? 

Lucio.  Yes,  marry,  did  I :  but  I  was  fain  to  for- 
swear it ;  they  would  else  have  married  me  to 
the  rotten  medlar.  180 

Duke.  Sir,  your  company  is  fairer  than  honest.  Rest 
you  well. 

Lucio.  By  my  troth,  I  '11  go  with  thee  to  the  lane's 
end :  if  bawdy  talk  offend  you,  we  '11  have  very 
little  of  it.  Nay,  friar,  I  am  a  kind  of  burr ;  I 
shall  stick.  [Exeunt. 

Scene  IV. 

A  room  in  Angelo's  house. 
Enter  Angelo  and  Escaliis. 

Escal.  Every  letter  he  hath  writ  hath  disvouched 
other. 

Ang.  In  most  uneven  and  distracted  manner.  His 
actions  show  much  like  to  madness :  pray 
heaven  his  wisdom  be  not  tainted!     And  why 

98 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  IV.  Sc.  iv. 

meet  him  at  the  gates,  and  redeHver  our  authori- 
ties there? 

Escal.  I  guess  not. 

Ang.  And  why  should  we  proclaim  it  in  an  hour  be- 
fore his  entering,  that  if  any  crave  redress  of  in-     lo 
justice,  they  should  exhibit  their  petitions  in  the 
street  ? 

Escal.  He  shows  his  reason  for  that :  to  have  a  dis- 
patch of  complaints,  and  to  deliver  us  from  de- 
vices hereafter,  which  shall  then  have  no  power 
to  stand  against  us. 

Aug.  Well,  I  beseech  you,  let  it  be  proclaimed  be- 
times i'  the  morn ;  I  '11  call  you  at  your  house : 
give  notice  to  such  men  of  sort  and  suit  as  are 
to  meet  him. 

Escal.  I  shall,  sir.     Fare  you  well.  20 

Aug.  Good  night.  [Exit  Escalus. 

This  deed  unshapes  me  quite,  makes  me  unpregnant, 
And  dull  to  all  proceedings.     A  deflower'd  maid ! 
And  by  an  eminent  body  that  enforced 
The  law  against  it !     But  that  her  tender  shame 
Will  not  proclaim  against  her  maiden  loss, 
How  might  she  tongue  me !    Yet  reason  dares  her  no ; 
For  my  authority  bears  of  a  credent  bulk, 
That  no  particular  scandal  once  can  touch 
But  it  confounds  the  breather.    He  should  have  lived. 
Save  that  his  riotous  youth,  with  dangerous  sense,  31 
Might  in  the  times  to  come  have  ta'en  revenge, 
By  so  receiving  a  dishonour'd  life 
With  ransom  of  such   shame.     Would  yet  he  had 

lived ! 
Alack,  when  once  our  grace  we  have  forgot, 
Nothing  goes  right ;  we  would,  and  we  would  not. 

[Exit, 
99 


Act  IV.  Sc.  v.=vi.      MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 
Scene  V. 

Fields  zi'itJwiif  the  town. 
Enter  Duke  in  his  ozvn  habit,  and  Friar  Peter. 

Duke.  These  letters  at  fit  time  deliver  me  :  [Giving  letters. 
The  provost  knows  our  purpose  and  our  plot. 
The  matter  being  afoot,  keep  your  instruction, 
And  hold  you  ever  to  our  special  drift ; 
Though  sometimes  you  do  blench  from  this  \o  that. 
As  cause  doth  minister.     Go  call  at  Flavins'  house, 
And  tell  him  where  I  stay :   give  the  like  notice 
To  Valentius,  Rowland,  and  to  Crassus, 
And  bid  them  bring  the  trumpets  to  the  gate ; 
But  send  me  Flavins  first. 

Fri.  P.  It  shall  be  speeded  well.   [Exit.     lo 

Enter  Varrius. 

Duke.  I  thank  thee,  Varrius  ;  thou  hast  made  good  haste : 
Come,  we  will  walk.     There  's  other  of  our  friends 
Will  greet  us  here  anon,  my  gentle  Varrius. 

[Exeunt. 

Scene  VI. 

Street  near  the  city-gate. 
Enter  Isabella  and  Mariana. 

Isab.  To  speak  so  indirectly  I  am  loath  : 

I  would  say  the  truth ;  but  to  accuse  him  so, 
That  is  your  part :  yet  I  am  advised  to  do  it ; 
He  says,  to  veil  full  purpose. 

Mari.  Be  ruled  by  him. 

Isab.  Besides,  he  tells  me  that,  if  peradventure 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  V.  Sc.  i. 

He  speak  against  me  on  the  adverse  side, 

I  should  not  think  it  strange ;   for  'tis  a  physic 

That 's  bitter  to  sweet  end. 

Mari.  I  would  Friar  Peter — 

Isab.  O,  peace !   the  friar  is  come. 

Enter  Friar  Peter. 

Fri.  P.  Come,  I  have  found  you  out  a  stand  most  fit,     lo 
Where  you  may  have  such  vantage  on  the  Duke, 
He  shall  not  pass  you.     Twice  have  the  trumpets 

sounded ; 
The  generous  and  gravest  citizens 
Have  hent  the  gates,  and  very  near  upon 
The  Duke  is  entering :  therefore,  hence,  away ! 

[Exeunt. 

ACT  FIFTH. 

Scene  I. 

The  city-gate, 

Mariana  veiled,  Isabella,  and  Friar  Peter,  at  their  stand. 
Enter  Duke,  Varriiis,  Lords,  Angela,  Escalus, 
Lucio,  Provost,  Officers,  and  Citizens,  at  several 
doors. 

Duke.  My  very  worthy  cousin,  fairly  met! 

Our  old  and  faithful  friend,  we  are  glad  to  see  you. 

p      1   \  Happy  return  be  to  your  royal  Grace! 

Duke.  Many  and  hearty  thankings  to  you  both. 
We  have  made  inquiry  of  you ;   and  we  hear 
Such  goodness  of  your  justice,  that  our  soul 

lOI 


Act  V.  Sc.  i.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

Cannot  but  yield  you  forth  to  public  thanks, 
Forerunning  more  requital. 

Ang.  You  make  my  bonds  still  greater. 

Duke.  O,  your  desert  speaks  loud ;  and  I  should  wrong  it, 
To  lock  it  in  the  wards  of  covert  bosom,  lo 

When  it  deserves,  with  characters  of  brass, 
A  forted  residence  'gainst  the  tooth  of  time 
And  razure  of  oblivion.     Give  me  your  hand, 
And  let  the  subject  see,  to  make  them  know 
That  outward  courtesies  would  fain  proclaim 
Favours  that  keep  within.     Come,  Escalus; 
You  must  walk  by  us  on  our  other  hand : 
And  good  supporters  are  you. 

Friar  Peter  and  Isabella  come  forzvard. 

Fri.  P.  Now  is  your  time :   speak  loud,  and  kneel  before 
him. 

Isab.  Justice,  O  royal  Duke !     Vail  your  regard  20 

Upon  a  wrong'd,  I  would  fain  have  said,  a  maid ! 
O  worthy  prince,  dishonour  not  your  eye 
By  throwing  it  on  any  other  object 
Till  you  have  heard  me  in  my  true  complaint, 
And  given  me  justice,  justice,  justice,  justice ! 

Duke.  Relate  your  wrongs;    in   what?    by  whom?    be 
brief. 
Here  is  Lord  Angelo  shall  give  you  justice: 
Reveal  yourself  to  him. 

Isab.  O  worthy  Duke, 

You  bid  me  seek  redemption  of  the  devil: 
Hear  me  yourself ;   for  that  which  I  must  speak    30 
Must  either  punish  me,  not  being  believed. 
Or  wring  redress  from  you.     Hear  me,  O  hear  me, 
here! 

102 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  V.  Sc.  i. 

Aug,  My  lord,  her  wits,  I  fear  me,  are  not  firm : 
She  hath  been  a  suitor  to  me  for  her  brother 
Cut  off  by  course  of  justice, — 

Isab.  By  course  of  justice! 

Aug.  And  she  will  speak  most  bitterly  and  strange. 

Isab.  Most  strange,  but  yet  most  truly,  will  I  speak : 
That  Angelo  's  forsworn ;   is  it  not  strange  ? 
That  Angelo  's  a  murderer ;   is  't  not  strange  ? 
That  Angelo  is  an  adulterous  thief,  40 

An  hypocrite,  a  virgin-violator; 
Is  it  not  strange  and  strange? 

Duke.  Nay,  it  is  ten  times  strange. 

Isab.  It  is  not  truer  he  is  Angelo 

Than  this  is  all  as  true  as  it  is  strange : 
Nay,  it  is  ten  times  true ;   for  truth  is  truth 
To  the  end  of  reckoning. 

Duke.  Away  with  her! — Poor  soul, 

She  speaks  this  in  the  infirmity  of  sense. 

Isab.  O  prince,  I  conjure  thee,  as  thou  believest 
There  is  another  comfort  than  this  world. 
That  thou  neglect  me  not,  with  that  opinion  50 

That  I  am  touch'd  with  madness !     Alake  not  im- 
possible 
That  which  but  seems  unlike :   'tis  not  impossible 
But  one,  the  wicked'st  caitiff  on  the  ground, 
May  seem  as  shy,  as  grave,  as  just,  as  absolute 
As  Angelo ;    even  so  m.ay  Angelo, 
In  all  his  dressings,  characts,  titles,  forms, 
Be  an  arch-villain  ;   believe  it,  royal  prince : 
If  he  be  less,  he  's  nothing;   but  he  's  more. 
Had  I  more  name  for  badness. 

Duke,  By  mine  honesty, 

103 


Act  V.  Sc.  i.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

If  she  be  mad, — as  I  believe  no  other, —  60 

Her  madness  hath  the  oddest  frame  of  sense, 
Such  a  dependency  of  thing  on  thing, 
As  e'er  I  heard  in  madness. 

hah.  O  gracious  Duke, 

Harp  not  on  that ;   nor  do  not  banish  reason 
For  inequaHty ;  but  let  your  reason  serve 
To  make  the  truth  appear  where  it  seems  hid. 
And  hide  the  false  seems  true. 

Duke.  Many  that  are  not  mad 

Have,  sure,  more  lack  of  reason.     What  would  you 
say? 

Isah.  I  am  the  sister  of  one  Claudio, 

Condemn'd  upon  the  act  of  fornication  70 

To  lose  his  head ;  condemn'd  by  Angelo : 

I,  in  probation  of  a  sisterhood, 

Was  sent  to  by  my  brother ;   one  Lucio 

As  then  the  messenger, — 

Lucio.  That 's  I,  an  't  like  your  Grace : 

I  came  to  her  from  Claudio,  and  desired  her 
To  try  her  gracious  fortune  with  Lord  Angelo 
For  her  poor  brother's  pardon. 

Isab.  That 's  he  indeed. 

Duke.  You  were  not  bid  to  speak. 

Lucio.  No,  my  good  lord; 

Nor  wish'd  to  hold  my  peace. 

Duke.  I  wish  you  now,  then  ; 

Pray  you,  take  note  of  it :   and  when  you  have        80 
A  business  for  yourself,  pray  heaven  you  then 
Be  perfect. 

Lucio.  A  warrant  your  honour. 

Duke.  The  warrant 's  for  yourself ;  take  heed  to  't. 

104 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  V.  Sc.  i. 

Isah.  This  gentleman  told  somewhat  of  a  tale, — 

Lucio.  Right. 

Duke.  It  may  be  right ;  but  you  are  i'  the  wrong 
To  speak  before  your  time.     Proceed. 

Isah.  I  went 

To  this  pernicious  caitiff  Deputy, —  ^ 

Duke.  That 's  somewhat  madly  spoken. 

Isab.  Pardon  it; 

The  phrase  is  to  the  matter.  90 

Duke.  Mended  again.     The  matter ;— proceed. 

Isah.  In  brief, — to  set  the  needless  process  by, 

How  I  persuaded,  how  I  pray'd,  and  kneel'd, 

How  he  refell'd  me,  and  how  I  replied, — 

For  this  was  of  much  length, — the  vile  conclusion 

I  now  begin  with. grief  and  shame  to  utter  : 

He  would  not,  but  by  gift  of  my  chaste  body 

To  his  concupiscible  intemperate  lust, 

Release  my  brother ;   and,  after  much  debatement, 

My  sisterly  remorse  confutes  mine  honour,  100 

And  I  did  yield  to  him  :  but  the  next  morn  betimes. 

His  purpose  surfeiting,  he  sends  a  warrant 

For  my  poor  brother's  head. 

Duke.  This  is  most  likely ! 

Isab.  O,  that  it  were  as  like  as  it  is  true ! 

Duke.  By  heaven,  fond  wretch,  thou  know'st  not  what 
thou  speak'st, 
Or  else  thou  art  suborn'd  against  his  honour 
In  hateful  practice.     First,  his  integrity 
Stands  without  blemish.     Next,  it  imports  no  reason 
That  with  such  vehemency  he  should  pursue 
Faults  proper  to  himself  :   if  he  had  so  offended,   1 10 
He  would  have  weigh'd  thy  brother  by  himself, 

105 


Act  V.  Sc.  i.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

And  not  have  cut  him  off.     Some  one  hath  set  you  on  : 
Confess  the  truth,  and  say  by  whose  advice 
Thou  camest  here  to  complain. 

Isah.  And  is  this  all? 

Then,  O  you  blessed  ministers  above, 
Keep  me  in  patience,  and  with  ripen' d  time 
Unfold  the  evil  which  is  here  wrapt  up 
In  countenance! — Heaven  shield  your  Grace  from 

woe. 
As  I,  thus  wrong'd,  hence  unbelieved  go ! 

Duke.  I  know  you  'Id  fain  be  gone. — An  officer!  120 

To  prison  with  her ! — Shall  we  thus  permit 
A  blasting  and  a  scandalous  breath  to  fall 
On  him  so  near  us  ?     This  needs  must  be  a  practice. 
Who  knew  of  your  intent  and  coming  hither? 

Isah.  One  that  I  would  were  here.  Friar  Lodowick. 

Duke.  A  ghostly  father,  belike.     Who  knows  that  Lodo- 
wick? 

Liicio.  My  lord,  I  know  him ;   'tis  a  meddling  friar ; 
I  do  not  like  the  man :  had  he  been  lay,  my  lord, 
For  certain  words  he  spake  against  your  Grace 
In  your  retirement,  I  had  swinged  him  soundly.     130 

Duke.  Words  against  me!   this  's  a  good  friar  belike! 
And  to  set  on  this  wretched  woman  here 
Against  our  substitute!     Let  this  friar  be  found. 

Liicio.  But  yesternight,  my  lord,  she  and  that  friar, 
I  saw  them  at  the  prison :  a  saucy  friar, 
A  very  scurvy  fellow. 

Fri.  P.  Blessed  be  your  royal  Grace ! 

I  have  stood  by,  my  lord,  and  I  have  heard 
Your  royal  ear  abused.     First,  hath  this  woman 
Most  wrongfully  accused  your  substitute,  140 

Who  is  as  free  from  touch  or  soil  with  her 
As  she  from  one  ungot. 

106 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  V.  Sc.  i. 

Duke.  We  did  believe  no  less. 

Know  you  that  Friar  Lodowick  that  she  speaks  of  ? 

Fri.  P.  I  know  him  for  a  man  divine  and  holy ; 
Not  scurvy,  nor  a  temporary  meddler, 
As  he  's  reported  by  this  gentleman ; 
And,  on  my  trust,  a  man  that  never  yet 
Did,  as  he  vouches,  misreport  your  Grace. 

Lucio.  My  lord,  most  villanously;   believe  it. 

Fri.  P.  Well,  he  in  time  may  come  to  clear  himself;      150 
But  at  this  instant  he  is  sick,  my  lord, 
Of  a  strange  fever.     Upon  his  mere  request, — 
Being  come  to  knowledge  that  there  was  complaint 
Intended  'gainst  Lord  Angelo, — came  I  hither. 
To  speak,  as  from  his  mouth,  what  he  doth  know 
Is  true  and  false ;  and  what  he  with  his  oath 
And  all  probation  will  make  up  full  clear, 
Whensoever  he  's  convented.     First,  for  this  woman. 
To  justify  this  worthy  nobleman, 
So  vulgarly  and  personally  accused,  160 

Her  shall  you  hear  disproved  to  her  eyes, 
Till  she  herself  confess  it. 

F)iike.  Good  friar,  let 's  hear  it. 

[Isabella  is  carried  off  guarded;   and  Mariana  comes 

forzcard. 
Do  you  not  smile  at  this.  Lord  Angelo  ? — 
O  heaven,  the  vanity  of  wretched  fools ! — 
Give  us  some  seats.     Come,  cousin  Angelo : 
In  this  I  '11  be  impartial :  be  you  judge 
Of  your  own  cause.     Is  this  the  witness,  friar? 
First,  let  her  show  her  face,  and  after  speak. 

Mari.  Pardon,  my  lord :  I  will  not  show  my  face 

Until  my  husband  bid  me.  17° 

107 


Act  V.  Sc.  i.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

Duke.  What,  are  you  married? 

Mart.  No,  my  lord. 

Duke.  Are  you  a  maid? 

Mari.  No,  my  lord. 

Duke.  A  widow,  then? 

Mari.  Neither,  my  lord. 

Duke.  Why,  you  are  nothing,  then : — neither  maid,  wid- 
ow, nor  wife? 

Lucio.  My  lord,  she  may  be  a  punk :    for  many  of  them 
are  neither  maid,  widow,  nor  wife.  i8o 

Duke.  Silence  that  fellow :   I  would  he  had  some  cause 
To  prattle  for  himself. 

Lucio.  Well,  my  lord. 

Mari.  My  lord,  I  do  confess  I  ne'er  was  married ; 
And  I  confess,  besides,  I  am  no  maid : 
I  have  known  my  husband ;  yet  my  husband 
Knows  not  that  ever  he  knew  me. 

Lucio.  He  was  drunk,  then,  my  lord :    it  can  be  no 
better. 

Duke.  For  the  benefit  of  silence,  would  thou  wert  so    19c 
too! 

Lucio.  Well,  my  lord. 

Duke.  This  is  no  witness  for  Lord  Angelo. 

Mari.  Now  I  come  to  't,  my  lord : 

She  that  accuses  him  of  fornication. 
In  self-same  manner  doth  accuse  my  husband  ; 
And  charges  him,  my  lord,  with  such  a  time 
When  I  '11  depose  I  had  him  in  mine  arms 
With  all  the  effect  of  love. 

Ang.  Charges  she  moe  than  me? 

Mari.  Not  that  I  know.       200 

Duke.  No  ?  you  say  your  husband. 

108 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  V.  Sc.  i. 

Mart.  Why,  just,  my  lord,  and  that  is  Angelo, 

Who  thinks  he  knows  that  he  ne'er  knew  my  body. 
But  knows  he  thinks  that  he  knows  Isabel's. 

Aug.  This  is  a  strange  abuse.     Let 's  see  thy  face. 

Mari.  My  husband  bids  me ;   now  I  will  unmask. 

[  Unveiling. 
This  is  that  face,  thou  cruel  Angelo, 
Which  once  thou  sworest  was  worth  the  looking  on ; 
This  is  the  hand  which,  with  a  vow'd  contract, 
Was  fast  belock'd  in  thine ;  this  is  the  body  210 

That  took  away  the  match  from  Isabel, 
And  did  supply  thee  at  thy  garden-house 
In  her  imagined  person. 

Duke.  Know  you  this  woman? 

Lucio.  Carnally,  she  says. 

Duke.  Sirrah,  no  more! 

Lucio.  Enough,  my  lord. 

Ang.  My  lord,  I  must  confess  I  know  this  woman : 

And  five  years  since  there  was  some  speech  of  mar- 
riage 
Betwixt  myself  and  her ;   which  was  broke  off. 
Partly  for  that  her  promised  proportions 
Came  short  of  com.position ;  but  in  chief,  220 

For  that  her  reputation  was  disvalued 
In  levity :   since  which  time  of  five  years 
I  never  spake  with  her,  saw  her,  nor  heard  from  her. 
Upon  my  faith  and  honour. 

Mari.  Noble  prince, 

As  there  comes  light  from  heaven  and  words  from 

breath. 
As  there  is  sense  in  truth  and  truth  in  virtue, 
I  am  affianced  this  man's  wife  as  strongly 
As  words  could  make  up  vows  :  and,  my  good  lord. 
But  Tuesday  night  last  gone  in  's  garden-house 
109 


Act  V.  Sc.  i.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

He  knew  me  as  a  wife.     As  this  is  true,  230 

Let  me  in  safety  raise  me  from  my  knees ; 
Or  else  for  ever  be  confixed  here, 
A  marble  monument  I 

Aug.  I  did  but  smile  till  now  : 

Now,  good  my  lord,  give  me  the  scope  of  justice ; 
My  patience  here  is  touch'd.     I  do  perceive 
These  poor  informal  women  are  no  more 
But  instruments  of  some  more  mightier  member 
That  sets  them  on :   let  me  have  way,  my  lord. 
To  find  this  practice  out. 

Duke.  Ay,  with  my  heart; 

And  punish  them  to  your  height  of  pleasure.        240 
Thou  foolish  friar ;   and  thou  pernicious  woman. 
Compact   with   her  that 's   gone,   think'st   thou   thy 

oaths. 
Though   they   would    swear    down    each   particular 

saint, 
Were  testimonies  against  his  worth  and  credit, 
That 's  seal'd  in  approbation  ?     You,  Lord  Escalus, 
Sit  with  my  cousin ;    lend  him  your  kind  pains 
To  find  out  this  abuse,  whence  'tis  derived. 
There  is  another  friar  that  set  them  on ; 
Let  him  be  sent  for. 

Fri.  P.  Would  he  were  here,  my  lord  !   for  he,  indeed,  250 
Hath  set  the  women  on  to  this  complaint : 
Your  provost  knows  the  place  where  he  abides. 
And  he  may  fetch  him. 

Duke.  Go,  do  it  instantly.      [Exit  Provost. 

And  you,  my  noble  and  well-warranted  cousin. 
Whom  it  concerns  to  hear  this  matter  forth, 
Do  with  your  injuries  as  seems  you  best, 
In  any  chastisement :   I  for  a  while  will  leave  you ; 
But  stir  not  you  till  you  have  well  determined 

no 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  V.  Sc.  i. 

Upon  these  slanderers. 

Escal.  My    lord,    we  '11    do    it    thoroughly.      [Exit  260 
Duke.]      Signior   Lucio,    did  not  you   say  you 
knew  that  Friar  Lodowick  to  be  a  dishonest  per- 
son ? 

Lttcio.  '  Cucullus  non  facit  monachum  ' :  honest  in 
nothing  but  in  his  clothes ;  and  one  that  hath 
spoke  most  villanous  speeches  of  the  Duke. 

Escal.  We  shall  entreat  you  to  abide  here  till  he 
come,  and  enforce  them  against  him:  we  shall 
find  this  friar  a  notable  fellow. 

Lucio.  As  any  in  Vienna,  on  my  word. 

Escal.  Call   that   same   Isabel   here   once   again :     I  270 
would  speak  with  her.      [Exit  an  Attendant.] 
Pray  you,  my  lord,  give  me  leave  to  question ; 
you  shall  see  how  I  '11  handle  her. 

Lucio.  Not  better  than  he,  by  her  own  report. 

Escal.  Say  you  ? 

Lucio.  Marry,  sir,  I  think,  if  you  handled  her  pri- 
vately, she  would  sooner  confess:  perchance, 
publicly,  she  '11  be  ashamed. 

Escal.  I  will  go  darkly  to  work  with  her. 

Lucio.  That 's  the  way ;   for  women  are  light  at  mid-  280 
night. 

Re-enter  Officers  zvith  Isabella;  and  Provost  zvith  the 
Duke  in  his  friar's  habit. 

Escal.  Come  on,  mistress  :  here  's  a  gentlewoman  de- 
nies all  that  you  have  said. 

Lucio.  My  lord,  here  comes  the  rascal  I  spoke  of; 
here  with  the  provost. 

Escal.  In  very  good  time :  speak  not  you  to  him  till 
we  call  upon  you. 

Ill 


Act  V.  Sc.  i.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

Lucio.  Mum. 

Escal.  Come,  sir :    did  you  set  these  women  on  to 

slander  Lord  Angelo?   they  have  confessed  you  290 
did. 

Duke.  'Tis  false. 

Escal.  How !    know  you  where  you  are  ? 

Duke.  Respect  to  your  great  place !   and  let  the  devil 
Be  sometime  honour' d  for  his  burning  throne ! 
Where  is  the  Duke  ?  'tis  he  should  hear  me  speak. 

Escal.  The  Duke  's  in  us ;  and  we  will  hear  you  speak. 
Look  you  speak  justly. 

Duke.  Boldly,  at  least.     But,  O,  poor  souls, 

Come  you  to  seek  the  lamb  here  of  the  fox  ?  300 

Good  night  to  your  redress  !     Is  the  Duke  gone  ? 
Then  is  your  cause  gone  too.     The  Duke  's  unjust, 
Thus  to  retort  your  manifest  appeal, 
And  put  your  trial  in  the  villain's  mouth 
Which  here  you  come  to  accuse. 

Lucio.  This  is  the  rascal ;  this  is  he  I  spoke  of. 

Escal.  Why,  thou  unreverend  and  unhallow'd  friar. 
Is  't  not  enough  thou  hast  suborn'd  these  women 
To  accuse  this  worthy  man,  but,  in  foul  mouth. 
And  in  the  witness  of  his  proper  ear,  310 

To  call  him  villain  ?  and  then  to  glance  from  him 
To  the  Duke  himself,  to  tax  him  with  injustice? 
Take  him  hence ;  to  the  rack  with  him  !     We  '11 

touse  you 
Joint  by  joint,  but  we  will  know  his  purpose. 
What,  '  unjust ' ! 

Duke.  Be  not  so  hot ;    the  Duke 

Dare  no  more  stretch  this  finger  of  mine  than  he 
Dare  rack  his  own :  his  subject  am  I  not, 
112 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  V.  Sc.  i. 

Nor  here  provincial     My  business  in  this  state 

Made  me  a  looker-on  here  in  Vienna, 

Where  I  have  seen  corruption  boil  and  bubble      320 

Till  it  o'er-run  the  stew ;   laws  for  all  faults, 

But  faults  so  countenanced,  that  the  strong  statutes 

Stand  like  the  forfeits  in  a  barber's  shop, 

As  much  in  mock  as  mark. 

Escal.  Slander  to  the  state !   Away  with  him  to  prison  ! 

Ang.  What  can  you  vouch  against  him,  Signior  Lucio? 
Is  this  the  man  that  you  did  tell  us  of? 

Lucio.  'Tis  he,  my  lord.  Come  hither,  goodman 
baldpate :    do  you  know  me  ? 

Duke.  I  remember  you,   sir,  by  the  sound  of  your  330 
voice:    I  met  you  at  the  prison,  in  the  absence 
of  the  Duke. 

Lucio,  O,  did  you  so?  And  do  you  remember  what 
you  said  of  the  Duke? 

Duke.  Most  notedly,  sir. 

Lucio.  Do  you  so,  sir?  And  was  the  Duke  a  flesh- 
monger,  a  fool,  and  a  coward,  as  you  then  re- 
ported him  to  be? 

Duke.  You  must,  sir,  change  persons  with  me,  ere 

you  make  that  my  report :    you,  indeed,  spoke  340 
so  of  him ;  and  much  more,  much  worse. 

Lucio.  O  thou  damnable  fellow!  Did  not  I  pluck 
thee  by  the  nose  for  thy  speeches? 

Duke.  I  protest  I  love  the  Duke  as  I  love  myself. 

Ang.  Hark,  how  the  villain  would  close  now,  after 
his  treasonable  abuses ! 

Escal.  Such  a  fellow  is  not  to  be  talked  withal. 
Away  with  him  to  prison  !  Where  is  the  pro- 
vost ?     Away   with   him   to   prison !     lay   bolts 

113 


Act  V.  Sc.  i.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

enough    upon    him :     let    him    speak    no    more.  350 
Away  with  those  giglets  too,  and  with  the  other 
confederate  companion ! 

Duke.    [To  the  Provost^    Stay,  sir;   stay  awhile. 

Aug.  What,  resists  he?     Help  him,  Lucio. 

Liicio.  Come,  sir;  come,  sir;  come,  sir;  foh,  sir! 
Why,  you  bald-pated  lying  rascal,  you  must  be 
hooded,  must  you?  Show  your  knave's  visage, 
with  a  pox  to  you!  show  your  sheep-biting  face, 
and  be  hanged  an  hour !  Will 't  not  off? 
[Pulls  off  the  friar  s  hood,  and  discovers  the  Duke. 

Duke.  Thou    art    the    first    knave    that  e'er    madest    a 
Duke.  360 

First,  provost,  let  me  bail  these  gentle  three. 
[To  Lucio]    Sneak  not  away,  sir;    for  the  friar 

and  you 
Must  have  a  word  anon.     Lay  hold  on  him. 

Lucio.  This  may  prove  worse  than  hanging. 

Duke.    [To  Escalus]   What  you  have  spoke  I  pardon  :   sit 
you  down. 
We'll  borrow  place  of  him.    [To  Angelo]    Sir,  by 

your  leave. 
Hast  thou  or  word,  or  wit,  or  impudence. 
That  yet  can  do  thee  office?     If  thou  hast. 
Rely  upon  it  till  my  tale  be  heard. 
And  hold  no  longer  out. 

Aug.  O  my  dread  lord,  370 

1  should  be  guiltier  than  my  guiltiness. 
To  think  I  can  be  undiscernible, 
When  I  perceive  your  Grace,  like  power  divine, 
Hath  look'd  upon  my  passes.     Then,  good  prince. 
No  longer  session  hold  upon  my  shame, 
But  let  my  trial  be  mine  own  confession : 
Immediate  sentence  then,  and  sequent  death, 

114 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  V.  Sc.  i. 

Is  all  the  grace  I  beg. 

Duke.  Come  hither,  Mariana. 

Say,  wast  thou  e'er  contracted  to  this  woman  ? 

Aug.  I  was,  my  lord,  380 

Duke.  Go  take  her  hence,  and  marry  her  instantly. 
Do  you  the  office,  friar;   which  consummate. 
Return  him  here  again.     Go  with  him,  provost. 
[Exeunt  Angela,  Mariana,  Friar  Peter  and  Provost. 

Escal.  My  lord,  I  am  more  amazed  at  his  dishonour 
Than  at  the  strangeness  of  it. 

Duke.  Come  hither,  Isabel. 

Your  friar  is  now  your  prince :  as  I  was  then 
Advertising  and  holy  to  your  business, 
Not  changing  heart  with  habit,  I  am  still 
Attomey'd  at  your  service. 

Isab.  O,  give  me  pardon, 

That  I,  your  vassal,  have  employ'd  and  pain'd      390 
Your  unknown  sovereignty! 

Duke.  You  are  pardon'd,  Isabel: 

And  now,  dear  maid,  be  you  as  free  to  us. 
Your  brother's  death,  I  know,  sits  at  your  heart ; 
And  you  may  marvel  why  I  obscured  myself, 
Labouring  to  save  his  life,  and  would  not  rather 
Make  rash  remonstrance  of  my  hidden  power 
Than  let  him  so  be  lost.     O  most  kind  maid, 
It  was  the  swift  celerity  of  his  death. 
Which  I  did  think  with  slower  foot  came  on. 
That  brain'd  my  purpose.     But,  peace  be  with  him ! 
That  life  is  better  life,  past  fearing  death,  401 

Than  that  which  lives  to  fear :  make  it  your  comfort, 
So  happy  is  your  brother. 

Isab.  I  do,  my  lord. 

IIS 


Act  V.  Sc.  i.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

Re-enter  Angela,  Mariana,  Friar  Peter,  and  Provost. 

Duke.  For  this  new-married  man,  approaching  here, 
Whose  salt  imagination  yet  hath  wrong'd 
Your  well-defended  honour,  you  must  pardon 
For    Mariana's    sake:     but    as    he    adjudged    your 

brother, — 
Being  criminal,  in  double  violation 
Of  sacred  chastity,  and  of  promise-breach 
Thereon  dependent,  for  your  brother's  life, —        410 
The  very  mercy  of  the  law  cries  out 
Most  audible,  even  from  his  proper  tongue, 
'  An  Angelo  for  Claudio,  death  for  death ! '    * 
Haste  still  pays  haste,  and  leisure  answers  leisure ; 
Like  doth  quit  Hke,  and  measure  still  for  measure. 
Then,  Angelo,  thy  fault 's  thus  manifested ; 
Which,  though  thou  wouldst  deny,  denies  thee  van- 
tage. 
We  do  condemn  thee  to  the  very  block 
•       Where  Claudio  stoop'd  to  death,  and  with  like  haste. 
Away  with  him ! 

Mari.  O  my  most  gracious  lord,  420 

I  hope  you  will  not  mock  me  with  a  husband. 

Duke.  It  is  your  husband  mock'd  you  with  a  husband. 
Consenting  to  the  safeguard  of  your  honour, 
I  thought  your  marriage  fit ;   else  imputation. 
For  that  he  knew  you,  might  reproach  your  life. 
And  choke  your  good  to  come :   for  his  possessions. 
Although  by  confiscation  they  are  ours, 
We  do  instate  and  widow  you  withal, 
To  buy  you  a  better  husband. 

Mari.  O  my  dear  lord, 

I  crave  no  other,  nor  no  better  man.  430 

Duke.  Never  crave  him;   we  are  definitive. 

116 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  V.  Sc.  i. 

Mari.  Gentle  nay  liege, —  [Kneeling. 

Duke,  You  do  but  lose  your  labour. 

Away  with  him  to  death!    \To  Lucio]   Now,  sir,  to 
you. 
Mari.  O  my  good  lord !     Sweet  Isabel,  take  my  part ; 

Lend  me  your  knees,  and  all  my  life  to  come 

I  '11  lend  you  all  my  life  to  do  you  service. 
Duke.  Against  all  sense  you  do  importune  her: 

Should  she  kneel  down  in  mercy  of  this  fact, 

Her  brother's  ghost  his  paved  bed  would  break. 

And  take  her  hence  in  horror. 
Mari.  Isabel,  *     440 

Sweet  Isabel,  do  yet  but  kneel  by  me ; 

H0I4  up  your  hands,  say  nothing,  I  '11  speak  all. 

They  say,  best  men  are  moulded  out  of  faults ; 

And,  for  the  most,  become  much  more  the  better 

For  being  a  little  bad :   so  may  my  husband. 

O  Isabel,  will  you  not  lend  a  knee  ? 
Duke.  He  dies  for  Claudio's  death. 
Isab.  Most  bounteous  sir,   [Kneeling. 

Look,  if  it  please  you,  on  this  man  condemn'd. 

As  if  my  brother  lived :   I  partly  think 

A  due  sincerity  govern'd  his  deeds,  450 

Till  he  did  look  on  me  :  since  it  is  so, 

Let  him  not  die.     My  brother  had  but  justice, 

In  that  he  did  the  thing  for  which  he  died : 

For  Angelo, 

His  act  did  not  o'ertake  his  bad  intent; 

And  must  be  buried  but  as  an  intent 

That  perish'd  by  the  way :  thoughts  are  no  subjects ; 

Intents,  but  merely  thoughts. 
Mari.  Merely,  my  lord. 

Duke.  Your  suit 's  unprofitable ;   stand  up,  I  say. 

117 


Act  V.  Sc.  i.  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

I  have  bethought  me  of  another  fault.  460 

Provost,  how  came  it  Claudio  was  beheaded 
At  an  unusual  hour? 

Prov.  It  was  commanded  so. 

Duke.  Had  you  a  special  warrant  for  the  deed  ? 

Prov.  No,  my  good  lord ;  it  was  by  private  message. 

Duke.  For  which  I  do  discharge  you  of  your  office : 
Give  up  your  keys. 

Prov.  Pardon  me,  noble  lord: 

I  thought  it  was  a  fault,  but  knew  it  not ; 
Yet  did  repent  me,  after  more  advice : 
Kor  testimony  whereof,  one  in  the  prison. 
That  should  by  private  order  else  have  died,  470 

I  have  reserved  alive. 

Duke.  What's  he? 

Prov.  His  name  is  Barnardine. 

Duke.  I  would  thou  hadst  done  so  by  Claudio. 
Go  fetch  him  hither;   let  me  look  upon  him. 

[Exit  Provost. 

Escal.  I  am  sorry,  one  so  learned  and  so  wise 
As  you.  Lord  Angelo,  have  still  appear'd, 
Should  slip  so  grossly,  both  in  the  heat  of  blood, 
And  lack  of  temper'd  judgement  afterward. 

Ang.  I  am  sorry  that  such  sorrow  I  procure : 
And  so  deep  sticks  it  in  my  penitent  heart. 
That  I  crave  death  more  willingly  than  mercy ;    480 
'Tis  my  deserving,  and  I  do  entreat  it. 

Re-enter  Provost,  zvith  Barnardine,  Claudio  miMed,  and 

Juliet. 

Duke.  Which  is  that  Barnardine? 
Prov.  This,  my  lord. 

118 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Act  V.  Sc.  i. 

Duke.  There  was  a  friar  told  me  of  this  man. 

Sirrah,  thou  art  said  to  have  a  stubborn  soul, 

That  apprehends  no  further  than  this  world, 

And  squarest  thy  life  according.   Thou  'rt  condemn'd  : 

But,  for  those  earthly  faults,  I  quit  them  all ; 

And  pray  thee  take  this  mercy  to  provide 

For  better  times  to  come.     Friar,  advise  him ; 

I  leave  him  to  your  hand.  What  muffled  fellow  's  that  ? 

Prov.  This  is  another  prisoner  that  I  saved,  491 

Who  should  have  died  when  Claudio  lost  his  head ; 
As  like  almost  to  Claudio  as  himself. 

[Unmiifflcs  Claudio. 

Duke.    [To  Isabella^   If  he  be  like  your  brother,  for  his 
sake 
Is  he  pardon 'd ;  and,  for  your  lovely  sake, 
Give  me  your  hand,  and  say  you  will  be  mine. 
He  is  my  brother  too :   but  fitter  time  for  that. 
By  this  Lord  Angelo  perceives  he  's  safe ; 
Methinks  I  see  a  quickening  in  his  eye. 
Well,  Angelo,  your  evil  quits  you  well :  500 

Look  that  you  love  your  wife ;  her  worth  worth  yours. 
I  find  an  apt  remission  in  myself ; 
And  yet  here  's  one  in  place  I  cannot  pardon. 
[To  Lncio]   You,  sirrah,  that  knew  me  for  a  fool,  a 

coward. 
One  all  of  luxury,  an  ass,  a  madman ; 
Wherein  have  I  so  deserved  of  you. 
That  you  extol  me  thus? 

Lucio.  'Faith,  my  lord,  I  spoke  it  but  according  to  the 
trick.  If  you  will  hang  me  for  it,  you  may ;  but 
I  had  rather  it  would  please  you  I  might  be  whipt.  510 

Duke.  Whipt  first,  sir,  and  hang'd  after. 

Proclaim  it,  provost,  round  about  the  city, 
If  any  woman  wrong'd  by  this  lewd  fellow, — 

119 


Act  V.  Sc.  i.  .    MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

As  I  have  heard  him  swear  himself  there  's  one 
Whom  he  begot  with  child,  let  her  appear, 
And  he  shall  marry  her :   the  nuptial  finish'd. 
Let  him  be  whipt  and  hang'd. 

Liicio.  I  beseech  your  highness,  do  not  marry  me  to 
a  whore.     Your  highness  said  even  now,  I  made 
you  a  Duke :   good  my  lord,  do  not  recompense  520 
me  in  making  me  a  cuckold. 

Duke.  Upon  mine  honour,  thou  shalt  marry  her. 
Thy  slanders  I  forgive;   and  therewithal 
Remit  thy  other  forfeits. — Take  him  to  prison; 
And  see  our  pleasure  herein  executed. 

Lucio.  Marrying  a  punk,   my   lord,   is   pressing  to 
death,  whipping,  and  hanging. 

Duke.  Slandering  a  prince  deserves  it. 

[Exeunt  Officers  zvith  Lucio. 
She,  Claudio,  that  you  wrong'd,  look  you  restore. 
Joy  to  you,  Mariana !     Love  her,  Angelo :  530 

I  have  confess'd  her,  and  I  know  her  virtue. 
Thanks,  good  friend  Escalus,  for  thy  much  good- 
ness : 
There  's  more  behind  that  is  more  gratulate. 
Thanks,  provost,  for  thy  care  and  secrecy : 
We  shall  employ  thee  in  a  worthier  place. 
Forgive  him,  Angelo,  that  brought  you  home 
The  head  of  Ragozine  for  Claudio's : 
The  offence  pardons  itself.     Dear  Isabel, 
I  have  a  motion  much  imports  your  good ; 
Whereto  if  you  '11  a  willing  ear  incline,  540 

What 's  mine  is  yours,  and  what  is  yours  is  mine. 
So,  bring  us  to  our  palace;  where  we  '11  show 
What 's  yet  behind,  that 's  meet  you  all  should  know. 

[Exeunt. 

120 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 


Glossary. 


Absolute,  decided;  "be  abs.," 
i.e.  "  make  up  your  mind  "  ; 
III.  i.  5 ;  perfect,  V.  i.  54. 

Abuse,  delusion;  V.  i.  205. 

Accommodations,  comforts; 
III.  i.  14. 

Advertise,  instruct;  I.  i.  42. 

Advertising,  instructing;   V.   i. 

387. 

Advice,  consideration  ;  V.  i.  468. 

Affection,  feeling;  II.  iv.  168, 

Affections,  passions;  III.  i.  108. 

After,  at  the  rate  of;  II.  i.  246. 

All-building,  being  the  ground 
and  foundation  of  all;  II.  iv, 
94  (other  suggested  emenda- 
tions;  all-binding;  all-hold- 
ing). 

Appliances,  remedies,  means ; 
III.  i.  89. 

Appointment,  equipment;  III. 
i.  60. 

Approbation;  "receive  her  ap.," 
i.e.  enter  upon  her  proba- 
tion ;  I.  ii.  178. 

As,  though  indeed ;  II.  iv.  89. 

Avised,  advised,  aware ;  li.  ii. 
132. 

Bark,  peel  away;  III.  i.  y2. 

Bastard  (used  equivocally),  a 
kind  of  sweet  wine ;  III.  ii.  4. 

Bay,  an  architectural  term  for 
a  division  of  a  building, 
marked    by    the    single    win- 


dows or  other  openings ;  II. 

i.  246. 
Beholding,    beholden ;    IV.    iii. 

163. 
Belongings,  endowments ;   I.   i. 

30. 
Billets,  small  logs  of  wood;  IV. 

iii-  55. 
Bite  by  the  nose,  to  treat  with 

contempt;  III.  i.  109. 
Blench,  start  away;  IV.  v.  5. 
Boldness,   confidence;     IV.     ii. 

163. 
Bonds,  obligations ;  V.  i.  8. 
Boot,  advantage,  profit ;  II.  iv. 

II. 
Bore  in  hand,  kept  in  expecta- 
tion; I.  iv.  51-2. 
Borne  up,  devised ;  IV.  i.  48. 
Bosom,  heart's  desire ;  IV.  iii. 

137- 
Bottom;  "  to  look  into  the  b.  of 

my  place,"  i.e.   "  to   know   it 

thoroughly  " ;  I.  i.  79. 
Brakes,  instruments  of  torture. 

(See  Notes.) 


From  an  engraving  in  Steevens. 


[21 


Glossary 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 


Bravery,  finery ;  I.  iii.  lo. 

Breeds;  "  my  sense  b.  with  it," 
i.e.  "  many  new  thoughts  are 
awakened  by  it  in  me  " ;  II. 
ii.  142. 

Bum,  alluding  to  Bumbast,  cot- 
ton used  to  stuff  out  gar- 
ments :  II.  i.  220. 


From  Bulwer's  Pedigree  of  the  English 
Gallant  (1653). 

Bunch  of  grapes,  name  of  a 
room ;  it  was  the  custom  to 
name  the  several  rooms  in 
taverns;  II.  i,  132. 

Censure,  to  pass  judgement,  or 

sentence,  upon;  I.  iv.  72;  II. 

i.  29. 
Character,     writing,      outward 

mark;   I.  i.  28;   handwriting, 

IV.  ii.  202. 
Characts,  characters ;  V.  i.  56. 
Cheap,  of   small  value ;    III.   i. 

183. 
Circummured,    walled    round ; 

IV.  i.  28. 
Clack-dish,   a   wooden   dish   or 

box  carried  by  beggars ;  III. 

ii.   134- 


From  an  old  French  painting  in  the 
Ashmolean  Museum. 

Clap,  to  begin  without  delay; 

IV.  iii.  41. 
Close,  to  make  peace,  come  to 

an  agreement;  V.  i.  345. 
Close,    silent,    secret;    IV.    ii 

121. 
Cold,  cool,   deliberate ;  IV.   ii 

102. 
Comhinatc,    betrothed;    III. 

229. 
Combined,  bound;  IV.  iii.  147. 
Comes  off  well,  is  well  told;  II. 

i-57- 

Commodity,  quantity  of  wares, 
parcel ;  IV.  iii.  5. 

Compact,  leagued;  V.  i.  242. 

Composition,  compact ;  V.  i. 
220. 

Concerning;  "  c.  her  observ- 
ance," i.e.  "which  it  concerns 
her  to  observe"  ;  IV.  i.  42. 

Concupisciblc,  concupiscent;  V. 
i.  98. 

Confixed,  fixed ;  V.  i.  232. 

Conserve,  preserve ;  III.  i.  88. 

Constantly,  firmly;  IV.  i.  21. 

Consummate,  being  consum- 
mated; V.  i.  382. 

Continue,  blunderingly  misun- 
derstood by  Elbow  to  refer 
to  some  penalty  or  other ;  II. 
i,  195;  to  let  live,  IV.  iii.  86. 


122 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 


Glossary 


Contrarioiis,  contradictory ;  IV. 

i.  62. 
Convenient,  fitting;  IV.  iii.  105. 
Convented,    summoned;    V.    i. 

158. 
Countenance,   hypocrisy;    V.   i. 

118. 
Covent,  convent;  IV.  iii.  131. 
Creation;  "their  cr.,"  i.e.  "their 

(men's)  nature  " ;  II.  iv.  127. 
Credent  hulk,  weight  of  credit; 

IV.  iv.  28. 
Credulous,     readily     yielding; 

II.  iv.  130.  "  Cucullus  non 
f  acit  monachum,"  i.e.  "  All 
hoods  make  not  monks  " ;  V. 
i.  263. 

Cunning,  sagacity ;  IV.  ii.  163. 

Defiance,      rejection,      refusal; 

III.  i.  143. 

Definitive,  resolved;  V.  i.  431. 
Delighted,  accustomed  to  ease 

and  delight;  III.  i.  121. 
Denunciation,  declaration ;  I.  ii. 

147. 

Deputation,  deputyship ;  I.  i.  21. 

Desperately;  "  d.  mortal,"  i.e. 
"  terribly  near  death  "  ; 
others,  "  desperate  in  his  in- 
curring of  death";  "  destined 
to  die  without  hope  of  salva- 
tion " ;  IV.  ii.  151. 

Detected,  charged,  accused ; 
III.  ii.  129. 

Determined,  limited,  bounded ; 
III.  i.  70. 

Determines,  assigns ;  I.  i.  39. 

Detest,  Elbow's  blunder  for 
"  protest  "  ;  II.  i.  68. 

Discover,  recognise;  IV.  ii.  181. 

Discover,  expose ;  III.  i.  197. 


Dispenses  with,  excuses;  III.  i. 

135. 

Dissolution,  death ;  III.  ii.  237. 

Disvalued,  depreciated;  V.  i. 
221. 

DisvoucJied,  contradicted;  IV. 
iv.  I. 

Dolours,  used  quibblingly  with 
play  upon  "  dollar  " ;  I.  ii.  50. 

Draw;  "  as  it  refers  to  the  tap- 
ster it  signifies  to  drain,  to 
empty";  as  it  is  related  to 
"  hang  "  it  means  "  to  be  con- 
veyed to  execution  on  a  hur- 
dle "  ;  in  Froth's  answer  it  is 
the  same  as  "  to  bring 
along  by  some  motive  or 
power  "  ;  II.  i.  208. 

Drawn  in,  taken  in,  swindled; 
II.  i.  213. 

Dressings,  habiliments ;  V.  i. 
56. 

Dribbling,  weak;  I.  iii.  2, 

Effects,  expressions ;  III.  i.  24. 
Em  mew,  to  coop  up,  "to  force 

to  lie  in  cover  without  daring 

to  show  themselves  "  ;  III.  i. 

91. 
Enshicld,   concealed,,   enclosed ; 

II.  iv.  80. 
Ensky'd,  placed   in  heaven ;    I. 

iv.  34- 
Entertain,  desire  to  keep;   III. 

i.  75. 
Escapes,  sallies ;  IV.  i.  63. 
Estimation,  reputation ;   IV.   ii. 

28. 
Evasion,  excuse;  I.  i.  51. 
Evils,  privies;  II.  ii.  172. 

Fact,  crime;  IV.  ii.  141. 


123 


Glossary 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 


False,  illegal ;  II.  iv.  49. 

Falsely,  dishonestly,  illegally ; 
II.  iv.  47. 

Fault;  "  fault  and  glimpse,"  i.e. 
the  faulty  glimpse ;  a  fault 
arising  from  the  mind  being 
dazzled  by  a  novel  authority ; 
I.  ii.  157- 

Favour,  used  equivocally  with 
a  play  upon  "  favour "  = 
"  countenance  "  ;  IV.  ii.  32 ; 
face,  IV.  ii.  182. 

Fear,  affright ;  II.  i.  2. 

Fear;  "  to  give  fear,"  =  "  to  in- 
timidate " ;  I.  iv.  62. 

Feodary  (so  Folios  2,  3,  4;  Fol. 
I  fedarie),  originally  one 
who  holds  an  estate  by  suit 
or  service  to  a  superior  lord, 
hence  one  who  acts  under 
the  direction  of  another; 
here,  "  one  of  the  human  fra- 
ternity " ;  II.  iv.  122. 

Fewness  and  truth,  briefly  and 
truly ;  I.  iv.  39. 

File,  multitude ;  III.  ii.  144. 

Fine,  punish;  II.  ii.  40;  III.  i. 

115. 

Fine,  punishment ;  II.  ii.  40. 

Flourish,  adorn ;  IV.  i.  75. 

Flowery  tenderness,  i.e.  a  ten- 
der woman  "  whose  action  is 
no  stronger  than  a  flower " 
(cp.  Sonnet  lxv.  4)  ;  III.  i. 
83. 

Foison,  plenty ;  I.  iv.  43. 

Fond,  foolish ;  II.  ii.  187 ;  V.  i. 
105;  foolishly  overprized;  II. 
ii.  149. 

Foppery,  folly ;  I.  ii.  132. 

Forfeit,  liable  to  penalty;  III. 
ii.  205. 


"  For  the  Lord's  sake,"  the  sup- 
plication of  imprisoned  debt- 
ors to  the  passers-by;  IV.  iii. 
21. 


For  the  Lo7-d''s  Sake. 

From  Braithwait's  Honest  Ghost,  or  A 

Voice  from  the  Vault  (1658). 

Free,  liberal ;  V.  i.  392. 

French  crown,  a  bald  head  pro- 
duced by  a  certain  disease; 
used  equivocally;  I.  ii.  52. 

Garden-house,  summer-house; 
V.  i.  212. 

General,  populace ;  II.  iv.  27. 

Generation,  race ;  IV.  iii.  91. 

Generative,  (?)  begot;  "a  mo- 
tion g." ;  "  a  puppet  born  of 
a  female  being"  (but  prob- 
ably Theobald's  emendation 
is  correct — "ungenerative")  ; 
III.  ii.  119. 


124 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 


Glossary 


Generous  and  gravest,  i.e.  most 
generous  and  most  grave; 
IV.  vi.  13. 

Ghostly,  spiritual ;  IV.  iii.  48. 

Giglets,  giglots ;  wantons ;  V.  i. 
351. 

Glassy  essence;  "that  essential 
nature  of  man.  which  is  like 
glass,  from  its  faculty  to  re- 
flect the  image  of  others  in 
its  own,  and  from  its  fragil- 
ity, its  liability  to  injury  or 
destruction  " ;  II.  ii.  120. 

Grace,  good  fortune,  happiness ; 
I.  iv.  69. 

Gradation,  regular  advance 
from  step  to  step ;  IV.  iii. 
102. 

Grange,  a  solitary  farmhouse  ; 
III.  i.  275. 

Gratulate,  gratifying;  V.  i.  533. 

Gravel,  flinty;  IV.  iii.  66. 

Guard;  "  stands  at  a  guard 
with,"  i.e.  "  is  on  his  guard 
against  ";  I.  iii.  51. 

Guards,     facings,     trimmings ; 

III.  i.  97. 

Hannibal,    Elbow's    error    for 

"  cannibal  "  ;  II.  i.  181. 
Happily,  haply;  IV.  ii.  98. 
Heavy,  drowsy ;  sleepy ;  IV.  i. 

35- 
Helmed,  directed;  III.  ii.  151. 
Hent,  seized,  taken  possession 

of;  IV.  vi.  14. 
Hide,  suppress ;  V.  i.  67. 
His,  its;  IV.  i.  31. 
Home  and  home,  to  the  quick; 

IV.  iii.  146. 

Hot-house,  bathing-house ;  II. 
i.  65. 


Ignomy  (so  Folio  i)=  igno- 
miny (which  word  suits  the 
metre  better)  ;  II.  iv.  iii. 

Impartial,  taking  no  part ;  V. 
i.  166. 

Imports,  carries  with  it ;  V.  i. 
108. 

Importune,  urge ;  I.  i.  ^7- 

Incertain,      unsettled,      vague ; 

III.  i.  127. 

Informal,  insane ;  V.  i.  236. 
In  good  time,  so    be    it,    very 

well;  III.  i.  181. 
Iniquity,  see  Justice. 
Insensible    of,    indifferent    to; 

IV.  ii.  151. 

Instance,    intimation;    IV.    iii. 

132. 
Invention,  imagination  ;  II. iv.  3. 
Inward,  intimate  friend;  III.  ii. 

138. 
Issues,  purposes ;  I.  i.  2>7- 

lournal,  diurnal ;  IV.  iii.  90. 

lustice  or  Iniquity;  "  that  is  the 
constable  or  the  fool ;  Esca- 
lus  calls  the  latter  Iniquity  in 
allusion  to  the  old  Vice,  a 
familiar  character  in  the  an- 
cient moralites  and  dumb- 
shows  " ;  II.  i.  174. 

Keeps,  dwells ;  I.  iii.  10. 

Lapwing  ("  the  bird  diverts  at- 
tention from  its  nest  by  fly- 
ing to  a  distance  and  attract- 
ing the  sportsman  there  by 
fluttering");  I.  iv.  32. 

Leaven'd,  well  fermented, 
ripened;  I.  i.  52. 

Leiger,  a  resident  ambassador 
at  a  foreign  court ;  III.  i.  59. 


125 


Glossary 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 


Like,  likely  to  be  believed ;  V. 

i.  104. 
Limit,   appointed  time ;    III.    i. 

222. 
Limited,  appointed ;  IV.  ii.  174. 
Lists,  bounds,  limits ;  I.  i.  6. 
Loss    of    question,    absence    of 

any  better  argument;   II.  iv. 

90. 
Lower  chair,  an  easy  chair;  II. 

i.  131. 
Luxury,  lust;  V.  i.  505. 

Meal'd,  sprinkled;  IV.  ii.  86. 

Medlar,  used  wantonly  for 
"  woman  "  ;  IV.  iii.  180. 

Mere,  particular;  V.  i.  152. 

Metre  (refers  probably  to  the 
ancient  metrical  graces  ar- 
ranged to  be  said  or  sung)  ; 

I.  ii.  22. 

Moe,  more ;  "  moe  thousand 
deaths,"  i.e.  "  a  thousand 
more  deaths  " ;  III.  i.  40. 

Mortality,  death;  I.  i.  45. 

Mother,  abbess ;  I.  iv.  86. 

Motion,  a  thing  endowed  with 
movement ;  III.  i.  120. 

Mystery,  trade;  IV.    ii.  29. 

Nature,  life ;  II.  iv.  43. 

No;  "reason  dares  her  no,"  i.e. 

"  admonishes   her   not   to   do 

it  "  ;  IV.  iv.  27. 

Obstruction,   stagnation  of  the 

blood;  III.  i.  119. 
Office,  service;  V.  i.  368. 
Omit,  pass  by;  IV.  iii.  75. 
Opposite,  opponent;  III.  ii.  175. 
Otcr,  possess,  have;  I.  iv.  83; 

II.  iv.  123. 


Pace,  to  make  to  go  (lit.  to 
teach  a  horse  to  move  ac- 
cording to  the  will  of  the 
rider)  ;  IV.  iii.  135. 

Pain,  penalty;  II.  iv.  86. 

Pain'd,  put  to  trouble  ;  V.  i.  390. 

Parcel-hawd,  part  bawd ;  II.  i. 
62. 

Part;  "  my  p.  in  him,"  i.e.  "  my 
office  delegated  to  him  " ;  I.  i. 
42. 

Partial;  "  nothing  come  in  p." 
i.e.  "  no  partiality  be  al- 
lowed ";  II.  i.  31. 

Particular,  private ;  IV.  iv.  29. 

Passes,  proceedings ;  V.  i.  374, 

Passing  on,  i.e.  passing  sen- 
tence on ;  II.  i.  19. 

Peaches,  impeaches;  IV.  iii.  12. 

Pelting,  paltry;  II.  ii.  112. 

Perdurably,  everlastingly;  III. 
i.  115. 

Philip  and  Jacob,  i.e.  the  feast 
of  St.  P.  and  St.  J.  (May 
ist)  ;  III.  ii.  214. 

Piled;  "  a  quibble  between 
piled,  peeled,  stripped  of  hair, 
bald  (from  the  French  dis- 
ease), and  piled  as  applied  to 
velvet ;  three-piled  velvet 
meaning  the  finest  and  cost- 
liest " ;  I.  ii.  35- 

Planched,  planked;  IV.  i.  30. 

Pluck  on,  draw  on ;  II.  iv.  147. 

Possess' d,  informed;  IV.  i.  44. 

Practice,  plot;  V.  i.  107,  123. 

Precept,  instruction;  "in  action 
all  of  p."  =  "  with  actions  in- 
tended to  instruct  me"  (i.e. 
shewing  the  several  turnings 
of  the  way  with  his  hand)  ; 
IV.  i.  40. 


126 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 


Glossary 


Prefers  itself,  places  itself  be- 
fore everything  else ;  I.  i.  55. 

Pregnant,  expert;  I.  i.  12;  evi- 
dent; II.  i.  22,. 

Prensie,  prim;  III.  i.  94,  97. 

Present;  "p.  shrift,"  i.e.  "im- 
mediate absolution  "  ;  IV.  ii. 
217. 

Presently,  immediatelv ;  IV.  iii. 
80. 

Preserved,    kept    pure ;    II.    ii. 

153. 

Prints,  impressions;  II.  iv.  130. 

Probation,  proof;  V.  i.  157. 

Profanation,  Elbow's  blunder 
for  "profession";  II.  i.  55. 

Profession,  business ;  IV.  iii.  2. 

Profiting,  taking  advantage;  II. 
iv.  128. 

Prolixioiis,  tiresome  and  hin- 
dering; II.  iv.  162. 

Prone  and  speecJiless,  probably 
to  be  considered  as  equiva- 
lent to  "  speechlessly  prone," 
i.e.  speaking  fervently  and 
eagerly  without  words  (or 
perhaps  "  prone  "  =  deferen- 
tial) ;  I.  ii.  183. 

Proper,  own ;  III.  i.  30 ;  V.  i. 
412;  personally,  peculiarly;  I. 
i.  31. 

Proper  to,  belonging  to ;  V.  i. 
no. 

Proportion,  measure ;   I.  ii.  23. 

Proportions,  portion,  fortune ; 
V.  i.  219. 

Provincial;  "  here  p."  =  "  un- 
der the  jurisdiction  of  this 
ecclesiastical  province  "  ;  V. 
i.  318. 

Provokest,  invokest ;  III.  i.  18. 

Put,  compelled;  I.  i.  5. 


Piitting-on,  incitement ;  IV.  ii. 
120. 

Qualify,  check;  IV.  ii.  86. 
Question,    consideration ;    I.    i. 

47. 
Quests,  spyings ;  IV.  i.  62. 
Quit,  acquit,  forgive ;  V.  i.  487. 

Race,  natural  disposition ;  II. 
iv.  160. 

Rack,  distort;  IV.  i.  65. 

Ravin  dozvn,  ravenously  de- 
vour; I.  ii.  128. 

Rebate,  make  dull ;  I.  iv.  60. 

Received,  understood;  II.  iv. 
82. 

Refell'd,  refuted;  V.  i.  94. 

Remission;  "  apt  r."  =  a  ready 
pardon,  readiness  to  forgive; 
V.  i.  502. 

Remonstrance,  demonstration ; 
V.  i.  396. 

Remorse,  pity;  II.  ii.  54;  V.  i. 
100. 

Remove,  absence;  I.  i.  44. 

Renouncement,  renunciation  of 
the  world ;  I.  v.  35. 

Resolve,  inform ;  III.  i.  192. 

Respected,  misapplied  by  El- 
bow and  Pompey  (  =  sus- 
pected) ;  II.  i.  164,   167. 

Restrained,  forbidden ;  II.  iv. 
48. 

Retort ;  "  to  refer  back  (to  An- 
gelo  the  cause  in  which  you 
appealed  from  Angelo  to  the 
Duke)";  V.  i.  303. 

Salt,  lustful ;  V.  i.  405. 
Satisfy  your  resolution,  sustain 
your  courage;  III.  i.  170. 


127 


Glossary 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 


Saucy,  wanton ;  II.  iv.'  45. 

Scaled,  weighed  (or  perhaps 
"  stripped  "  as  of  scales,  un- 
masked; "foiled"  has  been 
suggested  as  an  emendation) ; 
III.  i.  264. 

Scope,  power  ;  I.  i.  65  ;  licence  ; 

I.  ii.  126;  I.  iii.  35. 
Scruple,  very  small  quantity;  I. 

i.  38;  doubtful  perplexity;  I. 
i.  65. 
Secondary,    subordinate;    I.    i. 

47-        . 
Sects,  classes,  ranks.  II.  ii.  5. 
See  =^Rome;  III.  ii.  233. 
Seeming,  hypocrisy;  II.  iv.  150. 
Seldom  when,  i.e.   'tis   seldom 

that ;  IV.  ii.  89. 
Serpigo,  a  dry  eruption  on  the 

skin;  III.  i.  31. 
Several,  different ;  II.  iv.  2. 
Shears;  "  there  went  but  a  pair 

of    shears    between    us,"    i.e. 

"we    are   both    of   the    same 

piece  "  ;  I.  ii.  28. 
Sheep-biting,    thievish ;     V.     i. 

358. 
Shield,    forfend;    "Heaven    s. 

my  mother  play'd  my  father 

fair,"    i.e.    "  God    grant    that 

thou    wert    not    my    father's 

true  son";  III.  i.  141. 
Shrewd,  evil,  mischievous ;   II. 

i.  253. 
Sides   (the  Folios  "sickles"), 

shekels;  II.  ii.   149. 
Siege,  seat;  IV.  ii.  loi. 
Sith,  since;  I.  ii.  35. 
Smack,  have   a   taste,    savour; 

II.  ii.  5. 

Snatches,  repartees ;  IV.  ii.  6. 


Sort  and  suit,  rank  and  ser- 
vice (i.e.  suit-service,  due  to 
a  superior  lord)  ;  IV.  iv.  18. 

Soul,  "  with  special  s.,"  i.e.  with 
special  liking ;  I.  i.  18. 

Spare,  forbear  to  offend;  II. 
iii-  33- 

Splay  (so  first  Folio;  Steevens 
"spay"),  to  castrate;  II.  i. 
234. 

Stage,  to  make  a  show  of;  I.  i. 
69. 

Stagger,  waver,  hesitate;  I.  ii. 
164. 

Starkly,  stiffly,  as  if  dead;  IV. 
ii.  69. 

Stays  upon,  waits    for;   IV.   i. 

47- 
Stead,  be  of  service  to ;   I.  iv. 

17. 
Stead  up,  to  supply;  III.  i.  258. 
Stew,  cauldron;  V.  i.  321. 
Story,  subject  of  mirth;   I.  iv. 

30. 
Straitness,    strictness;     III.    ii. 

271. 
Stricture,  strictness ;  I.  iii.  12. 
Succeed,  inherit;  II.  iv.  123. 
Sufferance,    suffering;;    III.    i. 

80. 
Sweat,   the    plague   was   popu- 
larly known  as  "the  sweating 

sickness  "  ;  I.  ii.  82. 
Sweetness,  self-indulgence;  II. 

iv.  45- 
Swinged,  whipped;  V.  i.  130. 

Tax,  accuse ;  II.  iv.  79. 

Temporary  meddler,  one  who 
meddles  with  temporal  mat- 
ters; V.  i.  145. 


128 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 


Glossary 


Tick-tack.    From  a  picture  by  Teniers. 


Terms;  "  the  technical  lan- 
guage of  the  courts.  An  old 
book  called  Les  Terms  dc  la 
Ley  was  in  Shakespeare's 
days,  and  is  now,  the  acci- 
dence of  young  students  in 
the  law"  (Blackstone)  ;  I.  i. 
II. 

Tickle,  unstable;  I.  ii.  171. 

Tick-tack,  a  sort  of  backgam- 
mon (used  equivocally)  ;  I. 
ii.  191. 

Tilth,  tillage ;  I.  iv.  44. 

Tithe,  seed  to  be  sown ;  tenth 
of  the  harvest  (probably  an 
error  for  "tilth,"  i.e.  land  to 
be  sown)  ;  IV.  i.  yG. 

Touches,  vices;  III.  ii.  25. 

Toiise,  pull,  tear;  V.  i.  313. 


Trade,      custom ;      established 
habit;  III.  i.  149. 


From  '  La  tryumphante.  •  .entree  faicte 
sur  le. .  .advenement  de. .  .prince. . . 
Charles  des  Hespaignes  (i.e.  Emperor 
Charles  V.) . .  .en  sa  ville  de  Bruges' 
(15x5)- 


129 


Glossary 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 


Transport,  remove  from  one 
world  to  another;  IV.  iii.  70. 

Trick,  fashion ;  V.  i.  509. 

Trot,  a  contemptuous  name,  ap- 
plied properly  to  an  old 
woman;  III.  ii.  52. 

Trumpets  ("t.  to  the  gate"), 
trumpeters ;  IV.  v.  9. 

Tub,  the  sweating-tub,  used  as 
a  cure  for  certain  diseases; 
III.  ii.  59. 

Tun-dish,  funnel ;  III.  ii.  182. 


From  Holme's  Academy  of  Armory 
(1688). 

Unfolding,  releasing  from  the 
fold  or  pen;  IV.  ii.  213. 

Ungenitured  (?),  impotent 
(perhaps  "unbegotten")  ;  III. 
ii.  184. 

Ungot,  not  begotten ;  V.  i.  142. 

Unpitied,    unmerciful ;    IV.    ii. 

13. 

Unpregnant,  unready,  inapt ; 
IV.  iv.  22. 

Unshunned,  inevitable;  III.  ii. 
62. 

{Insisting,  probably  a  mis- 
print (in  Folios  i,  2,  3)  for 
''  insisting  "  (the  reading  of 
Fol.  4),  i.e.  "persistent"; 
IV.  ii.  92. 

Untrussing;  "untying  the 
points  or  tagged  laces  which 

.  attached  the  hose  or  breeches 
to  the  doublet";  III.  ii.  190. 


UnzveigJiing,  injudicious;  III. 
ii.  147. 

Use,  practices  long  counte- 
nanced by  custom ;  I.  iv.  62. 

Use,  interest,  probably  with  a 
secondary  sense  of  "  exer- 
tion " ;  I.  i.  41. 

Vail  your  regard,  lower   your 

look;  V.  i.  20. 
Vain;  "  for  v."  =  in  vain,  to  no 

purpose;  II.  iv.  12. 
Vantage;  "denies  thee  v.,"  i.e. 

"  will    avail    thee    nothing  "  ; 

V.  i.  417. 
J^astidity,  vastness;  III.  i.  69. 
P^eil  full  purpose,  to  cover  his 

full  p. ;  IV.  vi.  4. 
Viewless,  invisible ;  III.  i.  124. 
Virtuous,  beneficial ;  II.  ii.  168. 
Voice;   "  in  my  v."  =  "  in   my 

name  " ;  I.  ii.  180. 
Vouch,  affirmation;  II.  iv.  156. 
Vulgarly,  publicly;  V.  i.  160. 

Warp,  deviate;  I.  i.  15. 

Warped,  crooked,  wry,  unnatu- 
ral;  III.  i.  142. 

Wear,  fashion;  III.  ii.  78. 

Weeds;  "weed  is  a  term  still 
commonly  applied  to  an  ill- 
conditioned  horse"  (Col- 
lier) ;  emendations  pro- 
posed :  "  steeds,"  "  wills  "  ; 
I.  iii.  20. 

[[//io  =  which;  I.  ii.  190. 

Widow',  to  give  as  jointure;  V. 
i.  428. 

JVildcrness,  wildness ;  III.  i. 
142. 

JVoodnian,  one  who  hunts  fe- 
male game ;  IV.  iii.  166. 


130 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 


Glossary 


Wrong;  "  done  myself  w.,"  i.e. 
"put  myself  in  the  wrong"; 
I.  ii.  41. 

Yare,  ready;  IV.  ii.  60. 


Yield;  "  y.  you  forth  to  public 
thanks,"  i.e.  "  yield  public 
thanks  to  you  " ;  V.  i.  7. 

Zodiacs,  circuits  of  the  sun, 
years;  I,  ii.  167. 


131 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

Critical  Notes. 

BY   ISRAEL   GOLLANCZ. 

I.  i.  8,  9.  There  is  no  gap  between  ^sufficiency'  and  'as'  in  the 
Folios.  Theobald  first  advanced  the  plausible  theory  that  the  ob- 
scurity of  the  passage  was  due  to  some  careless  omission  on  the 
part  of  the  printers.  The  Camb.  Ed.,  accepting  Theobald's  theory, 
indicates  the  omission  by  means  of  dots.  Various  attempts  have 
been  made  to  explain  the  lines,  e.g.  "But  that  to  your  suiUcicnccs 
your  zi'orth  is  abled"  (Johnson)  ;  "But  your  suMciency  as  zvortJi 
is  able"  (Farmer);  Theobald's  suggestion  has  been  adopted  in 
the  present  edition. 

I.  i.  43.  'Hold  therefore,  Angelo' ;  the  Duke  probably  says  these 
words  on  tendering  commission  to  Angelo. 

I.  ii.  28.  '  There  went  but  a  pair  of  shears  between  us;'  i.e.  'we 
are  of  one  piece.' 

I.  ii.  119.  'by  zveight  the  zvords,'  so  Ff.,  'by  weight;  F  t^'c 
words/  Hanmer;  perhaps,  as  Johnson  conjectured,  a  line  Ims 
dropped  out. 

I.  ii.  120.  Cp.  St.  Paul  to  the  Romans,  ix.  15,  18:  ''  For  He  saith 
to  Moses,  I  will  have  mercy  on  whom  I  will  have  mercy,"  and 
again,  "Therefore  hath  He  mercy  on  whom  He  will  have  mercy, 
and  whom  He  zvill  He  hardeneth." 

I.  ii.  133.  'Morality' ;  the  Folios  misprint  'mortality.' 

I.  ii.  149.  'Propagation' ;  Folio  i  reads  propagation,  corrected 
in  Folio  2 ;  prorogation,  procuration,  preservation,  have  been  sug- 
gested by  various  editors,  but  the  text  as  it  stands  is  probably  cor- 
rect, though  not  altogether  clear ;  '  propagation  '  =  '  increase  ' ; 
perhaps  the  word  implies  '  increase  of  interest,'  and  '  for  propaga- 
tion '  =  '  that  she  might  continue  to  receive  the  interest,  which 
was  to  be  hers  while  she  remained  unmarried.' 

I.  iii.  10.  'and  witless,'  F2  F3  F4 ;  Fi  'zvitless';  Nicholson  conj. 
*  a  witless.' 

I.  iii.  27.  'Becomes,'  added  by  Pope  (after  Davenant)  :  Ff.  omit 
the  .verb. 

I.  iii.  43.  '  To  do  in  slander ' ;  so  the  Folios  ;  '  me  '  and  '  it '  have 

'     132 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Notes 

been  suggested  for  '  in/  but  no  change  seems  necessary ;  '  do  in ' 
=  '  bring  in,  bring  upon  me.' 

I.  iv.  54.  '  givings-out/  Rowe ;  Ff.  '  giving-out.' 

I.  iv.  78.  '  make  ' ;  Ff.  '  makes.' 

II.  i.  39.  'Some  run  from  brakes  of  vice,  and  answer  none;'  the 
line  as  it  stands  in  the  FoHos — *'  brakes  of  ice ' — which  is  kept  by 
the  Camb.  ed.,  is  obviously  corrupt,  and  has  occasioned  much  dis- 
cussion. Shakespeare  probably  wrote  ''  brakes  of  vice  ' ;  brakes  = 
'  tortures,  instruments  of  torture  '  (see  Glossary)  ;  '  of  vice  '  = 
resulting  from,  or  due  to,  vice ;  ''  brakes  of  vice '  is  antithetical  to 
'a  fault  alone,'  cp.  Henry  VIII.,  I  ii.  75 — 

"  the  rough  brake 
That  virtue  must  go  through." 

The  passage  seems  to  mean :  '  some  escape  scot-free  from  the 
penalties  of  vice — the  rough  brakes  that  vice  ought  to  go  through, 
while  others  are  condemned  for  a  mere  fault.' 

II.  i.  135.  'an  open  room'',  Schmidt,  "public  room";  perhaps 
it  means  '  open  to  sun,  light,  cheerful.' 

II.  ii.  79.  '  Like  man  new  made ' ;  commentators  are  strongly 
tempted  to  refer  the  words  to  '  new  made  man'  i.e.  Adam ;  Holt 
White  paraphrased  thus : — "  And  you  Angelo,  will  breathe  new 
life  into  Claudio,  as  the  Creator  animated  Adam,  by  breathing 
into  his  nostrils  the  breath  of  life."  Malone  explains : — "  You 
wall  then  appear  as  tender-hearted  and  merciful  as  the  first  man 
was  in  his  days  of  innocence,  immediately  after  his  creation." 
Schmidt  and  others,  "like  man  redeemed  and  regenerated  by 
divine  grace."  The  lines  are  perhaps  capable  of  this  interpreta- 
tion:— And  mercy  will  breathe  within  your  lips,  even  as  Mercy 
{i.e.  God)  breathed  within  the  lips  of  new  made  man. 

II.  ii.  90.  "  Dormiunt  aliquando  leges,  moriuntur  nunqiiam,"  is  a 
well-known  maxim  in  law  (Holt  White). 

II.  ii.  159.  '  Where  prayers  cross,'  i.e.  where  his  prayer  to  pos- 
sess Isabella  crosses  with  hers,  "  Heaven  keep  your  honour  safe !  " 

II.  iii.  II.  'the  Haws  of  her  ozvn  youth';  possibly  Warburton's 
correction,  " Hamcs,"  should  be  adopted;  cp. 

'  To  flaming  youth  let  virtue  be  as  zvax, 
And  melt  in  her  own  Hre! — Hamlet,  III.  iv.  84. 

II.  iii.  40.  '  O  injurious  love'  (Folios  'hue')  ;  Hanmer's  sug- 
gestion, '  lazv '  for  '  loue,'  has  been  generally  accepted ;  the  law 
respited  her  '  a  life  whose  very  comfort '  was  '  a  dying  horror.' 

133 


Notes 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 


II.  iV.  9.  fear'd;  probably  a  rms^r'mt  =  '  feared'  i.e.  'seared.' 
II.  iv.  103.  '  That  longing  have  been  sick  for ' ;  Rowe  suggested, 

'I've  been  sick   for';    for   the   omission   of  pronoun,   cp.    'Has 

censured  him,'  I.  iv.  72. 

II.  iv.  172.  'O  perilous  mouths';  the  line  is  defective  as  it 
stands.  (?)  '  O  pernicious  mouths'  (Walker),  or  '  these  perilous' 
(Seymour). 

III.  i.  II.  'thou  art  death's  fool;'  the  phrase  was  possibly  sug- 
gested by  the  introduction  of  the 

fool  into  most  of  the  old  dances 
of  death,  one  of  which  was  the 
original  source  of  the  accom- 
panying initial  from  Stowe's 
Survey  of  London   (1618). 

III.  i.  94,  97.  Prensie;  the 
source  of  this  strange  word 
has  baffled  students ;  it  seems 
identical  with  the  Scottish 
primsie,  '  demure,  precise,' 
which  in  its  turn  is  connected 
with  prim  (in  Old  French  prin 
pren)  :  under  any  circum- 
stances there  is  no  reason  why 
the  word  sh6uld  be  changed, 
as  has  been  proposed,  to 
'princely,'  the  reading  of  the  2nd  Folio,  or 
etc. 

III.  i.  123. 

"or  to  reside 
In  thrilling  region  of  thick-ribbed  ice 


s^ 

m 

~M^^M^^^ 

p^^^ 

^ 

priestly,'  'pensive,' 


Cp.  the  following  cut  from  Pynson's  edition  of  the  Kalender  of 
S hep  herd es  (1506). 

III.  ii.  9.  "  The  passage  seems  to  us  to  imply,  furred  (that  is, 
lined  with  lamb-skin  fur  inside,  and  trimmed  with  fox-skin  fur 
outside)  with  both  kinds  of  fur,  to  show  that  craft  (fox-skin), 
being  richer  than  innocency  (lamb-skin),  is  used  for  decoration" 
(Clarke). 

111.  ii.  12-14.  '  Good  father  friar'  ■  •  •  ' good  brother  father' ; 
the  joke,  as  Tyrwhitt  pointed  out,  would  be  clearer  in  French, 
'  mon  pere  frere'     .     .     .     '  mon  frere  pere.' 

III.  ii.  41.  'Free  from  our  faults,  as  faults  from  seeming  free!' 


134 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 


Notes 


so  Fo  Fa  (with  comma  after  seeming)  ;  Fi  'from  our  faults,'  etc., 
retained  by  Camb.  Ed.,  but  the  reading  adopted  commends  itself 
from  metrical  and  other  considerations,  i.e.,  "  Would  that  we  were 
as  free  from  faults,  as  our  faults  are  from  seeming  (hypocrisy)." 
Hanmer  proposed,  '  from  our  faults  as  from  faults  seeming  free.' 
If  any  correction  is  really  necessary,  one  feels  inclined  to  hazard — 

'  Free  from  our  faults,  as  from  false  seeming,  free.' 

(Cp.  '  thy  false  seeming,'  II.  iv.  15.) 

III.  ii.  242.  'security  enough  to  make  fellowships  aceurst';  cp. 
Prov.  xi.  15.  ^ 

III.  ii.  276-298.  These  lines  are  in  all  probability  not  Shake- 
speare's. 

III.  ii.  280.  '  Grace  to  stand,  and  virtue  go; '  i.e.  '  To  have  grace 
to  stand  firm,  and  virtue  to  go  forward.' 

III.  ii.  289-292.  '  Hoiv  may  likeness  made  in  crimes'  etc. ;  these 
lines  do  not  readily  admit  of  interpretation,  and  some  corruption 
has   probably   crept   into  the   text;    Malone   suggested   wade   for 

135 


Notes  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

made,  i.e.  "  How  may  hypocrisy  wade  in  crimes ;  "  Hanmer,  '  that 
likeness  shading  crimes'  etc.  None  of  the  suggestions  seem  very 
satisfactory.  Perhaps  to  draw  = '  to— draw'  i.e.  ' pull  to 
pieces '  ( ?). 

IV.  i.  I.  This  song  appears  in  Beaumont  and  Fletcher's  Bloody 
Brother,  with  the  addition  of  the  following  stanza,  assuredly  not 
Shakespeare's,  though  found  in  the  spurious  edition  of  his  poems, 
(1640)— 

"Hide,  O  hide  those  hills  of  snow 
Which  thy  frozen  bosom  hears, 
On  zvhose  tops  the  pinks  that  grozu 

Are  of  those  that  April  wears; 
But  first  set  my  poor  heart  free, 
Bound  by  those  icy  chains  by  thee." 

IV.  i.  13.  "  Though  the  music  soothed  my  sorrows,  it  had  no 
tendency  to  produce  light  merriment"  (Johnson). 

IV.  i.  y6.  '  tilth' ;  Theobald's  emendation  for  '  tithe/  the  reading 
of  Ff.,  retained  by  Camb.  Ed. 

IV.  ii.  45-49.  if  it  be  too  little — thief;  the  Folios  give  this  to 
Clo.  (Pompey)  ;  Capell  first  transferred  it  to  Abhorson,  and  he 
has  been  followed  by  most  editors.  Cowden  Clarke  defends  the 
Folio  arrangement ;  among  other  arguments  he  maintains  that 
"  the  speech  is  much  more  in  character  with  the  clown's  snip-snap 
style  of  chop-logic  than  with  Abhorson's  manner,  which  is  re- 
markably curt  and  bluff." 

IV.  iv.  6.  'redeliver' ;  Folio  i,  ' re-liuer'  \  Folio  2,  'deliuer'; 
Capell  first  suggested  '  redeliver.' 

IV.  iv.  28.  'bears  of  a  credent  bulk';  so  Folios  i,  2,  3;  many 
emendations  have  been  proposed;  the  reading  of  Fi  seems  the 
most  plausible — '  bears  off  a  credent  bulk  ' ;  '  credent  hulk  '  = 
'  weight  of  credit.' 

V.  i.  64.  'do  not  banish  reason  For  inequality;  i.e.  because  of 
'  improbability,'  '  incongruity,'  or,  according  to  some,  *  partiality.' 

V.  i.  323.  "These  shops,"  according  to  Nares,  "were  places  of 
great  resort,  for  passing  away  time  in  an  idle  manner.  By  way 
of  enforcing  some  kind  of  regularity,  and  perhaps  at  least  as 
much  to  promote  drinking,  certain  laws  were  usually  hung  up, 
the  transgression  of  which  was  to  be  punished  by  specific  for- 
feitures. It  is  not  to  be  wondered  that  laws  of  that  nature  were 
as  often  laughed  at  as  obeyed." 

136 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 


Notes 


V.  i.  359.  '  he  hanged  an  hour'  seems  to  have  been  a  cant  phrase, 
meaning  little  more  than  '  be  hanged !  ' 

V.  i.  360.  '  madcst,'  monosyllabic;  Ff.  'mad'st';  Capell  'made/ 
V.  i,  496.  '  Give  me  your  hand ' ;  i.e.  '  if  you  give  me  your  hand.' 
V.  i.  526.  "pressing  to  death,"  z=z" peine  forte  et  dure":  illus- 
trated by  the  accompanying  drawing. 


From  *  The  Life  and  Death  of  Griffin  Hood 


(1623). 


137 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 


Explanatory  Notes. 


The  Explanatory  Notes  in  this  edition  have  been  specially  selected  and 
adapted,  with  emendations  after  the  latest  and  best  authorities,  from  the 
most  eminent  Shakespearian  scholars  and  commentators,  including  Johnson, 
Malone,  Steevens,  Singer,  Dyce,  Hudson,  White,  Furness,  Dowden,  and 
others.  This  method,  here  introduced  for  the  first  time,  provides  the  best 
annotation  of  Shakespeare  ever  embraced  in  a  single  edition. 


ACT  FIRST. 
Scene  I. 

II.  terms: — Blackstone  says:  "An  old  book,  called  Lcs  Tcrmcs 
de  la  Ley,  was  in  Shakespeare's  da3^s,  and  is  now,  the  accidence 
of  young  students  in  the  law."  The  book  was  written  in  the  time 
of  Henry  VIII.,  and  was  used  in  Blackstone's  time. 

31.  so  proper: — So  much  or  so  exclusively  thy  own  property. 

2,7.  to  fine  issues : — That  is,  to  noble  ends,  to  high  purposes. 

ZJ.  nor  Nature: — Two  negatives,  not  making  an  affirmative,  are 
common  in  Shakespeare's  writings.  So  in  Julius  Ccesar,  III.  i. : 
"Nor  to  no  Roman  else." 

43.  Hold  therefore,  Angelo  : — Tyrwhitt  thinks  the  Duke  here 
checks  himself — Hold,  therefore:  and  that  Angelo  begins  a  new 
sentence.  But  hold  seems  addressed  to  Angelo;  the  sense  being — 
"Hold,  therefore,  our  power  " ;  referring  to  ^he  commission  which 
the  Duke  has  in  his  hand.  "  These,"  says  Douce,  "  are  words  of 
great  import,  and  ought  to  be  made  clear,  as  on  them  depends  the 
chief  incident  of  the  play." 

45,  46.  Mortality,  etc. : — That  is,  I  delegate  to  thy  tongue  the 
power  of  pronouncing  sentence  of  death,  and  to  thy  heart  the 
privilege  of  exercising  mercy. 

Scene  II. 

94.  houses  in  the  suburbs : — In  one  of  the  Scotch  Laws  of  James 

138 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Notes 

it  is  ordered,  "  that  common  women  he  put  at  the  utmost  endes  of 
townes,  queire  least  peril  of  fire  is." 

120.  The  zvords  of  heaven : — Authority,  being  absolute  in  An- 
gelo,  is  finely  styled  by  Claudio  the  demigod,  whose  decrees  are 
as  little  to  be  questioned  as  the  words  of  heaven.  The  Poet  ap- 
plies to  this  uncontrollable  power  a  passage  from  Paul's  Epistle 
to  the  Romans,  ix.  15,  18,  which  he  styles  the  words  of  heaven : 
"  for  he  saith  to  Moses,  I  will  have  mercy  on  whom  I  will  have 
mercy,"  etc. ;  and  again :  "  Therefore  hath  he  mercy  on  whom 
he  will  have  mercy,"  etc. 

128.  Like  rats  that  ravin  down,  etc. : — In  the  same  sense  of 
ravenously  devour,  ravin  up  is  used  in  Macbeth,  II.  iv.  In  Chap- 
man's Revenge  for  Honour  are  these  lines  : — 

"  Like  poison'd  rats,  which,  when  they  've  swallow'd 
The  pleasing  bane,  rest  not  until  they  drink. 
And  can  rest  then  much  less,  until  they  burst." 

147.  denunciation  : — Denounce  was  sometimes  used  in  the  sense 
of  publish,  proclaim,  or  announce.  Thus  in  Holinshed  and  others 
we  have  the  phrase,  "denouncing  war."  So,  also,  in  Raleigh's 
History  of  the  World:  "  But  Gracchus's  soldiers,  which  were  all, 
in  a  manner,  the  late  armed  slaves,  had  received  from  their  gen- 
eral a  peremptory  denunciation,  that,  this  day,  or  -never,  they 
must  purchase  their  liberty,  bringing  every  man,  for  price  thereof, 
an  enemy's  head." 

149.  A  singular  use  of  propagation.  The  word  here  probably 
means  continuance,  or  perhaps  increase.  In  Chapman's  Odyssey, 
xvi.,  occurs  this  passage  : — 

"  to  try  if  we. 
Alone,  may  propagate  to  victory 
Our  bold  encounters  ;  " 

and  again,  in  Chapman's  Iliad,  iv. : — 

"  I  doubt  not  but  this  night 
Even  to  the  fleete  to  propagate  the  Greek's  unturned  flight." 

So  also  in  Dryden's  Virgil: — 

"  Afric  and  India  shall  his  power  obey ; 
He  shall  extend  his  propagated  sway 
Beyond  the  solar  year,  without  the  starry  way." 

139 


Notes  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

In  the  present  case  the  meaning  would  be,  that  the  lovers  put  off 
their  marriage  with  a  view  to  continue  the  prospect,  to  keep  up 
the  chance,  of  a  dower,  until  time  should  favourably  dispose  the 
wills  of  those  upon  whom  the  lady's  fortune  was  dependent. 

183.  prone: — There  are  many  different  explanations  of  this 
word  among  the  editors  and  commentators.  Malone  takes  it  to 
mean  "  significant,  expressive  "  ;  Steevens  and  White,  "  humble  " ; 
Nares,  "  prompt,  ready  " ;  Clarke,  "  deferential,  gently  submis- 
sive "  ;  Hunter,  "affectionate".  Hudson  (Harvard  ed.)  makes  it 
signify  "  apt,  ready,  prompt,"  and  adds :  "  The  meaning  of  the 
passage  seems  to  be,  '  There  is  an  apt  and  silent  eloquence  in  her 
looks  such  as  moves  men.'  "  Upon  Davenant's  change  of  the  word 
to  "sweet,"  Steevens  remarks  that  it  shows  "that  what  appear 
difficulties  to  us  were  difficulties  to  him,  who,  living  nearer  the 
time  of  Shakespeare,  might  be  supposed  to  have  understood  his 
language  more  intimately." 


Scene  III. 

2.  dribbling : — "  Dribble,"  says  Richardson,  "  is  a  diminutive  of 
drib,  from  drip,  and  means  to  do  a  thing  by  drips  or  drops." 
The  sense  of  dribbling,  therefore,  is  trifling,  ineffective.  Thus  in 
Holland's  Livy :  "  Howbeit,  there  passed  some  dribbling  skir- 
mishes between  the  rearward  of  the  Carthaginians  and  the  vaunt- 
couriers  of  the  Romans."  So  also  in  Milton's  Apology  for  Smec- 
tymnus :  "  For  small  temptations  allure  but  dribbling  offenders !  " 
Respecting  the  use  of  the  term  in  archery,  Ascham,  in  his  Tox- 
ophilus,  says  of  one  who,  having  learned  to  shoot  well,  neglects  to 
practise  with  the  bow :  "  He  shall  become,  of  a  fayre  archer,  a 
Starke  squyrter  and  dribber." 

3.  complete  bosom  : — A  bosom  completely  armed.  Accented  on 
the  first  syllable. 

41-43.  Who  may  .  .  .  slander: — This  is  the  reading  of  the 
original.    The  passage  has  often  been  printed  thus : — 

"And  yet  my  nature  never  in  the  sight 
To  do  it  slander." 

The  words  ambush  and  strike  home  show  the  image  of  a  fight  to 
have  been  in  the  Poet's  mind.  As  the  text  stands,  the  speaker's 
purpose  apparently  is  to  avoid  any  open  contest  with  crime,  where 
his  action  would  expose  him  to  slander;  not  to  let  his  person  be 

140 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Notes 

seen  in  the  fight,  where  he  would  have  to  work,  to  do,  In  the  face 
of  detraction  and  censure. 


Scene  IV. 

30.  make  me  not  your  story: — Such  is  the  reading  of  the  orig- 
inal; the  me  being  expletive,  as  in  the  well-known  passage  setting 
forth  the  virtues  of  sack.  "  It  ascends  me  into  the  brain,"  etc. 
So  that  the  meaning  is,  "  Make  not  your  tale,  invent  not  your 
fiction."  Malone  changed  the  passage  thus :  "  Sir,  mock  me  not, — 
your  story";  which,  surely,  renders  Lucio's  reply,  'tis  true,  very 
unapt. 

32.  lapwing: — This  bird  diverts  pursuers  from  her  nest  by 
fluttering  and  crying  in  other  places.  "  The  lapwing  cries  most, 
farthest  from  her  nest,"  is  an  old  proverb.  So  in  The  Comedy 
of  Errors,  IV.  ii.  2y,  28: — 

"  Far  from  her  nest  the  lapwing  cries  ?-.way : 
My  heart  prays  for  him,  though  my  tongue  do  curse." 

So  again,  in  Lyly's  Alexander  and  Campaspc :  "You  resemble 
the  lapwing,  who  cryeth  most  where  her  nest  is  not ;  and  so,  to 
lead  me  from  espying  your  love  for  Campaspe,  you  cry  Timo- 
clea." 

51,  52.  Bore  .  .  .  in  hand: — To  bear  in  hand  is  to  carry 
along  with  one,  or  lead  along  with  false  hopes  or  expectations. 
The  phrase  is  frequent  in  Shakespeare.  So  in  2  Henry  IV.,  I. 
ii. :  "  A  rascally  yea-forsooth  knave  !  to  bear  a  gentleman  in  hand, 
and  then  stand  upon  security !  " 

62.  to  give  fear  to  use,  etc.: — That  is,  to  put  the  restraint  of 
fear  upon  licentious  custom  and  abused  freedom. 


ACT   SECOND. 
Scene  I. 

6,  fall: — A  causative  verb  here,  fall  means  to  throw  down, 
make  fall,  or  let  fall.    Often  so  in  Shakespeare. 

15.  which  now,  etc. : — To  complete  the  sense  of  this  line  for 
seems  to  be  required — "  which  now  you  censure  him  for."  But 
Shakespeare  frequently  uses  elliptical  expressions. 

141 


Notes  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

65.  she  professes  a  Jwt-Jiouse: — Professes,  or  pretends,  to  keep 
a  hot-house.  Hot-houses  were  bagnios  suppHed  with  vapour- 
baths  ;  but  under  this  name  other  accommodations  were  often 
furnished. 

92.  distant: — Pompey,  catching  Elbow's  trick  of  speech,  here 
uses  distant  for  instant. 

129.  All-hallond  eve: — The  eve  of  (evening  before)  All  Saints 
day. 

131.  a  lower  chair: — Most  houses  had  formerly  what  was  called 
a  lozver  choir,  that  is,  an  easy  chair,  designed  for  the  comfort  of 
sick  people,  and  sometimes  occupied  by  lazy  ones. 

132.  Bunch  of  Grapes: — Such  names  were  often  given  to  rooms 
in  the  Poet's  time.  So  in  the  Will  of  Henry  Harte,  we  read  of  a 
"  chamber  called  the  Half-moon.  In  i  Henry  IV.,  H.  iv.  are  men- 
tioned the  Half -moon  and  the  Pomgarnet  {Pomegranate). 

Scene  II. 

35,  ^6.  let  it  he  his  fault,  etc. : — That  is,  let  my  brother's  fault 
die,  but  let  not  him  suffer. 

40.  fine  the  faults : — To  punish  the  faults  whose  punishment  is 
provided  for  in  the  law. 

85.  of  season  : — In  proper  season  ;  when  they  are  mature  or  fit. 

95.  Looks  in  a  glass : — Alluding  to  the  magic  glasses  or  mirrors 
of  fortune-tellers  and  witches,  whereby  they  professed  to  reveal 
the  future.  See  Macbeth,  IV.  i.  for  the  use  made  of  such  a  glass 
by  the  Weird  Sisters. 

100-104.  ^  shoiu  it  most,  etc.: — So  in  Sir  Matthew  Hale's  Me- 
morials :  "  When  I  find  myself  swayed  to  mercy,  let  me  remem- 
ber that  there  is  a  mercy  likewise  due  to  the  country." 

122,  123.  zvith  our  spleens,  etc. : — By  spleens  Shakespeare  meant 
that  peculiar' turn  of  the  human  mind,  which  inclines  it  to  a  spite- 
ful and  unseasonable  mirth.  Had  the  angels  that,  they  would 
laugh  themselves  out  of  their  immortality,  by  indulging  a  passion 
unworthy  of  that  prerogative. 

136.  skins  the  vice  o'  the  top : — Shakespeare  has  used  this  metn- 
phor  again  in  Hamlet,  III.  iv. :  "It  will  but  skin  and  fihn  the 
ulcerous  place."  Only  in  these  two  passages  does  the  Poet  use 
the  verb  skin. 

142.  "  Such  sense  as  breeds  a  response  in  my  mind." 

157.  Heaven  keep  your  honour  safe! — Isabella  prays  that  his 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Notes 

honour  may  be  safe,  meaning  only  to  give  him  his  title :  his  mind 
is  caught  by  the  word  honour,  he  feels  that  it  is  in  danger,  and 
therefore  says  amen  to  her  benediction. 

159.  Where  prayers  cross: — The  petition  of  the  Lord's  Prayer, 
"  Lead  us  not  into  temptation,"  is  here  regarded  as  crossing  or 
intercepting  the  way  in  which  Angelo  is  going :  he  is  exposing 
himself  to  temptation  by  the  appointment  for  the  morrow's  meet- 
ing. The  passage  is  thus  explained  by  Heath-:  "  '  For  I  am  labour- 
ing under  a  temptation  of  that  peculiar  and  uncommon  kind,  that 
prayers,  and  every  other  act  of  piety  and  virtue,  tend  to  inflame, 
instead  of  allaying  it.'  For  it  was  the  very  piety  and  virtue  of 
Isabella  that  gave  an  edge  to  the  lust  of  Angelo." 

172.  evils: — This  term  for  privies  is  used  again  in  Henry  VIII., 
IL  i. :  "  Nor  build  their  evils  on  the  graves  of  great  men."  No 
language  could  more  forcibly  express  the  aggravated  profligacy  of 
Angelo's  passion.  The  desecration  of  edifices  devoted  to  religion, 
by  converting  them  to  the  most  abject  purposes  of  nature,  was  an 
eastern  method  of  expressing  contempt.     See  2  Kings  x,  27. 

Scene  III. 

36.  There  rest : — There  stand  or  remain ;  or,  keep  yourself  in 
that  frame  of  mind. 

Scene  IV. 

3.  Invention: — This  term  for  imagination  is  found  in  other 
plays.     So  in  Henry  V.,  L,  Prologue,  Chorus : — 

"  O  for  a  muse  of  fire,  that  would  ascend 
The  brightest  heaven  of  invention." 

12-15.  O  place,  .  .  .  seeming! — Shakespeare  judiciously  dis- 
tinguishes the  different  operations  of  high  place  upon  different 
minds.  Fools  are  frighted  and  wise  men  allured.  Those  who 
cannot  judge  but  by  the  eye  are  easily  awed  by  splendor;  those 
who  consider  men  as  well  as  conditions,  are  easily  persuaded  to 
love  the  appearance  of  virtue  dignified  with  power. 

17.  the  devil's  crest: — The  crest  was  often  emblematic  of  some- 
thing in  the  wearer ;  such,  for  example,  as  his  ancestral  name. 
The  devil's  horn  is  the  devil's  crest;  but  if  we  write  "  good  angel  " 
on  it,  the  emblem  is  overlooked  in  the  "  false  seeming";  we  think 
it  is  not  the  devil's  horn,  because  itself  tells  us  otherwise,  and  is 
in  no  manner  emblematic  of  him. 

143 


Notes  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

27.  The  general: — The  people  or  multitude  subject  to  a  king. 
So  in  Hamlet,  II.  ii. :  "  The  play  .  .  .  pleased  not  the  million; 
'twas  caviare  to  the  general."  It  is  supposed  that  Shakespeare,  in 
this  passage,  and  in  one  before,  I.  ii.,  intended  to  flatter  the  un- 
kingly  weakness  of  James  I.,  which  made  him  so  impatient  of  the 
crowds  that  flocked  to  see  him,  at  his  first  coming,  that  he  re- 
strained them  by  a  proclamation. 

46-49.  'tis  all  as  easy,  etc. : — The  thought  is,  apparently,  that 
murder  is  as  easy  as  fornication ;  and  the  inference  which  Angelo 
would  draw  is,  that  it  is  as  wrong  to  pardon  the  latter  as  the 
former. 

56.  give  my  body : — Isabel  uses  the  words  give  my  body  in  a 
diff"erent  sense  than  Angelo.  Her  meaning  is,  "  I  had  rather  die 
than  forfeit  my  eternal  happiness  by  the  prostitution  of  my 
person." 

57,  58.  our  compell'd  sins,  etc. : — That  is,  actions  that  we  are 
compelled  to,  however  numerous,  are  not  imputed  to  us  by  heaven 
as  crimes. 

79.  The  masks  worn  by  female  spectators  of  the  play  are  here 
probably  meant.  At  the  beginning  of  Romeo  and  Juliet  we  have 
a  passage  of  similar  import : — 

"  These  happy  masks  that  kiss  fair  ladies'  brows, 
Being  black,  put  us  in  mind  they  hide  the  fair." 

90.  in  the  loss  of  question  : — That  is,  conversation  that  tends  to 
nothing. 

121,  123.  Else  let  my  brother  die,  etc. : — A  very  obscure  passage. 
The  word  this  is  adopted  by  Mr.  Collier  from  an  old  manuscript 
note  in  a  copy  of  the  first  Folio  belonging  to  Lord  Francis  Egerton. 
With  this  change,  the  passage,  though  still  obscure,  makes  good 
sense  enough :  "  If  we  are  not  all  frail — if  my  brother  have  no 
feodary,  that  is,  no  companion,  one  holding  by  the  same  tenure  of 
frailty — if  he  alone  be  found  to  omni  and  succeed  to  this  weakness 
— then  let  him  die." 

127.  men  their  creation  mar: — The  meaning  appears  to  be,  that 
men  debase  their  natures  by  taking  advantage  of  women's  weak- 
ness.    She  therefore  calls  on  Heaven  to  assist  them. 

145-147.  your  virtue,  etc. : — Your  virtue  assumes  an  air  of 
licentiousness,  which  is  not  natural  to  you,  on  purpose  to  try  me. 

162.  prolixious  blushes :— What  Milton  has  elegantly  called 
"  sweet,  reluctant,  amorous  delay." 

144 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Notes 

ACT   THIRD. 
Scene  I. 

II.  Death  and  his  fool  were  personages  that  once  figured  on  the 
stage.  Douce  relates  having  seen  a  play  at  a  fair,  in  which  Death 
bore  a  part,  attended  by  a  fool  or  clown;  the  person  that  repre- 
sented Death  being  habited  in  a  close  black  vest  so  painted  as  to 
look  like  a  skeleton.  Douce  also  had  an  old  woodcut,  one  of  a 
series  representing  the  Dance  of  Death,  in  which  the  fool  was 
engaged  in  combat  with  his  adversary,  and  buffeting  him  with  a 
bladder  filled  with  peas  or  small  pebbles.  In  all  such  perform 
ances,  the  rule  appears  to  have  been,  that  the  fool,  after  struggling 
long  against  the  stratagems  of  Death,  at  last  became  his  victim. 

17.  Worm  is  put  for  any  creeping  thing  or  serpent.  Shake- 
speare adopts  the  vulgar  error,  that  a  serpent  wounds  with  his 
tongue,  and  that  his  tongue  is  forked.  In  old  tapestries  and 
paintings  the  tongues  of  serpents  and  dragons  always  appear 
barbed  like  the  point  of  an  arrow. 

34.  Dreaming  on  both : — This  is  exquisitely  imagined.  When 
we  are  young,  we  busy  ourselves  in  forming  schemes  for  suc- 
ceeding time,  and  miss  the  gratifications  that  are  before  us ;  when 
we  are  old,  we  amuse  the  languor  of  age  with  the  recollection  of 
youthful  pleasures  or  performances ;  so  that  our  life,  of  which 
no  part  is  filled  with  the  business  of  the  present  time,  resembles 
our  dreams  after  dinner,  when  the  events  of  the  morning  are 
mingled  with  the  designs  of  the  evening. 

36.  palsied  eld: — Trembling  old  age.  In  youth,  which  is  or 
ought  to  be  the  happiest  time,  man  commonly  wants  means  to 
obtain  what  he  could  enjoy;  he  is  dependent  on  palsied  eld;  must 
beg  alms  from  the  coffers  of  hoary  avarice ;  and,  being  very  nig- 
gardly supplied,  becomes  as  aged,  looks  like  an  old  man  on  hap- 
piness beyond  his  reach.  And  when  he  is  old  and  rich,  when  he 
has  wealth  enough  for  the  purchase  of  all  that  formerly  excited 
his  desires,  he  has  no  longer  the  powers  of  enjoyment. 

70.  To  a  determined  scope: — A  confinement  of  your  mind  to 
one  idea ;  to  ignominy,  of  which  the  remembrance  can  neither  be 
suppressed  nor  escaped. 

79-81.  the  poor  beetle,  etc. : — This  beautiful  passage  is  in  all  our 
minds  and  memories,  but  it  most  frequently  stands  in  quotation 
detached  from  the  antecedent  line — "  The  sense  of  death  is  most 

14s 


Notes  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

in  apprehension  ;"  without  which  it  is  liable  to  an  opposite  con- 
struction. The  meaning  is,  that  fear  is  the  principal  sensation  in 
death,  which  has  no  pain ;  and  the  giant  when  he  dies  feels  no 
greater  pain  than  the  beetle. 

100,  loi.  he  zuoiild  'give't  thcc,  etc.: — That  is,  "from  the  time 
of  my  committing  this  offence,  you  might  persist  in  sinning  with 
safety." 

io8  et  seq.  Has  lie  affections,  etc. : — "  Has  he  passions  that  impel 
him  to  transgress  the  law  at  the  very  moment  that  he  is  enforcing 
it  against  others?  Surely  then  it  cannot  be  a  sin  so  very  heinous, 
since  Angelo,  who  is  so  wise,  will  venture  it."  Shakespeare  shows 
his  knowledge  of  human  nature  in  the  conduct  of  Claudio. 

121-123.  the  delighted  spirit,  etc.: — This  passage  is  a  standing 
puzzle  to  commentators;  "fiery  floods"  and  "region  of  thick- 
ribbed  ice  "  being,  as  one  would  think,  among  the  last  places  to  be 
delighted  in.  The  most  common  explanation  is,  that  delighted 
spirit  means  the  spirit  that  has  been  delighted,  or  is  accustomed 
to  delight. 

123.  region  of  thick-ribbed  ice: — So  in  Ben  Jonson's  Catiline, 
I.  i, :  "  We  are  spirit-bound  in  I'ibs  of  ice,  our  whole  bloods  are 
one  stone,  and  honour  cannot  thaw  us;"  and  in  Paradise  Lost, 
Book  ii. — 

"  From  beds  of  raging  fire,  to  starve  in  ice 
Their  soft  ethereal  warmth,  and  there  to  pine 
Immovable-infix'd,  and  frozen  round, 
Periods  of  time ;    thence  hurried  back  to  fire." 

275.  grange : — A  grange  was  a  large  farm-house,  such  as  are 
often  kept  for  summer  residence  by  wealthy  citizens.  The  grange 
was  sometimes  moated  for  defence  and  safety.  The  dreary  and 
desolate  solitude  of  Mariana  at  the  moated  grange  is  wrought  out 
with  great  power  by  Tennyson,  in  a  poem  from  which  we  have 
room  for  but  one  stanza : 

"Her  tears  fell  with  the  dews  at  even. 

Her  tears  fell  ere  the  dews  were  dried; 
She  could  not  look  on  the  sweet  heaven, 

Either  at  morn  or  eventide. 
After  the  flitting  of  the  bats. 

When  thickest  dark  did  trance  the  sky, 

She  drew  her  casement  curtain  by. 
And  glanc'd  athwart  the  glooming  flats 

146 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Notes 

She  only  said,  '  The  night  is  dreary — 

He  Cometh  not,'  she  said; 
She  said,  '  I  am  aweary,  aweary ; 

I  would  that  I  were  dead !  '  " 

The  whole  poem  is  a  rare  specimen  in  the  art  of  creating  imagery 
so  fitted  to  a  given  tone  of  feeling  as  to  reproduce  the  feeling 
itself. 

Scene  II. 

i8,  picklock  : — It  is  not  necessary  to  take  honest  Pompey  for  a 
housebreaker :  the  locks  he  had  occasion  to  pick  were  Spanish 
padlocks.  In  Jonson's  Volpone,  Corvino  threatens  to  make  his 
wife  wear  one  of  these  strange  contrivances. 

41.  That  is,  as  free  from  faults  as  faults  are  from  scemliness. 

42.  His  neck  will  be  tied,  like  your  waist,  with  a  cord.  The 
friar  wore  a  rope  for  a  girdle. 

47,  48.  is  there  none  of  Pygmalion's  images,  etc. : — That  is,  have 
you  no  new  courtesans,  as  fresh  as  Pygmalion's  living  statue,  to 
recommend  to  your  customers? 

59.  in  the  tub  : — The  method  of  cure  for  a  certain  disease  was 
grossly  called  the  powdering  tub. 

74.  keep  the  house: — That  is,  stay  at  home,  alluding  to  the  ety- 
mology of  husband. 

134.  clack-dish  : — This  wooden  dish,  formerly  carried  by  beg- 
gars, had  a  movable  cover,  which  they  clacked  or  clattered  to 
show  that  it  was  empty.  It  was  one  mode  of  attracting  attention. 
Lepers  and  other  paupers  deemed  infectious  originally  used  it, 
that  the  sound  might  give  warning  not  to  approach  too  near,  and 
alms  be  given  wnthout  touching  the  object. 

144.  "The  greater  Hie,"  the  majority  of  his  subjects. 

184.  ungenitured : — That  is,  unfathered,  not  begotten  after  the 
ordinary  course  of  nature ;  in  accordance  with  what  Lucio  says  of 
him  a  little  before. 

192.  mutton  : — A  wench  was  called  a  laced  mutton.  In  Doctor 
Faustus,  1604,  Lechery  says,  "  I  am  one  that  loves  an  inch  of  raw 
mutton  better  than  an  ell  of  stock-fish."  See  the  Tzvo  Gentlemen 
of  Verona,  I.  i. 

242.  security : — The  allusion  is  to  those  legal  securities  into 
which  fellowship  leads  men  to  enter  for  each  other.  For  this 
quibble  Shakespeare  has  high  authority :  "  He  that  hateth  surety- 
ship is  sure." — Proverbs,  xi.  15. 

147 


Notes  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

264.  resolved: — That  is,  satisfied;  probably  because  conviction 
leads  to  decision  or  resolution. 

280.  Coleridge,  in  his  Literary  Remains,  remarks  upon  this  pas- 
sage :  "  Worse  metre  indeed,  but  better  English  would  be,  '  Grace 
to  stand,  virtue  to  go.'  " 

286.  my  vice : — The  Duke's  vice  may  be  explained  by  what  he 
says  himself,  I.  iii. :  *'  'Twas  my  fault  to  give  the  people  scope." 
Angelo's  vice  requires  no  explanation. 

287  et  seq.  O,  zvhat  may  man,  etc. : — This  passage,  though  rather 
dark  in  itself,  is  intelligible  enough,  when  we  consider  that  the 
speaker  has  Angelo  in  his  mind ;  who,  bad  as  he  is,  has  by  his 
hypocrisy  managed  to  raise  himself  as  high  as  merit  could  lift  him. 
Likeness  apparently  has  much  the  same  meaning  here  as  what  the 
Poet  elsewhere  calls  "  virtuous-seeming."  So  that  the  passage 
may  be  rendered  thus :  How  may  seeming  virtue,  unsubstantial 
as  it  is,  and  wickedly  put  on,  by  practising  upon  the  times  draw 
to  itself  the  greatest  of  earthly  honours  and  emoluments,  even 
while  it  is  rioting  in  crime ! 

ACT  FOURTH. 
Scene  I. 

I  et  seq.  It  does  not  appear  certain  to  whom  this  beautiful  little 
song  rightly  belongs.  It  is  found  with  an  additional  stanza  in 
Fletcher's  Bloody  Brother.  Malone  prints  it  as  Shakespeare's, 
Boswell  thinks  Fletcher  has  the  best  claim  to  it,  Weber  that 
Shakespeare  may  have  written  the  first  stanza,  and  Fletcher  the 
second.  It  may  indeed  be  the  property  of  some  unknown  or  for- 
gotten author. 

Scene  II. 

S3,  ask  forgiveness: — It  was  formerly  the  custom  for  an  exe- 
cutioner, before  proceeding  to  his  office,  to  ask  forgiveness  of  the 
person  to  be  executed. 

83.  Stroke  is  here  put  for  the  stroke  of  a  pen,  or  a  line. 

135.  a  prisoner  nine  years  oW :— That  is,  nine  years  in  prison. 

151.  Perhaps  we  should  read  mortally  desperate;  d^s  we  have 
harmonious  charmingly  for  charmingly  harmonious  in  The  Tem- 
pest. 

148 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Notes 

163.  in  the  boldness  of  my  cunning: — That  is,  in  the  confidence 
of  my  sagacity. 

186.  bared: — This  probably  alludes  to  a  practice  of  desiring  to 
receive  the  tonsure  of  the  monks  before  they  died. 
213.  the  unfolding  star: — So  Milton  in  Corniis: — 

"  The  star  that  bids  the  shepherd  fold 
Now  the  top  of  heaven  doth  hold." 

Scene  III. 

4  et  scq.  This  enumeration  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  prison 
affords  a  very  striking  view  of  the  practices  predominant  in 
Shakespeare's  age.  Besides  those  whose  follies  are  common  to 
all  times,  we  have  four  fighting  men  and  a  traveller.  It  is  not 
unlikely  that  the  originals  of  the  pictures  were  then  known.  Rash 
was  a  silken  stuff  formerly  worn  in  coats ;  all  the  names  are  char- 
acteristic. 

6.  brozvn  paper  .  .  .  ginger : — It  was  the  practice  of  money- 
lenders in  Shakespeare's  time,  as  well  as  more  recently,  to  make 
advances  partly  in  goods  and  partly  in  cash.  The  goods  were  to 
be  resold  generally  at  an  enormous  loss  upon  the  cost  price,  and 
of  these  commodities  it  appears  that  brozvn  paper  and  ginger  often 
formed  a  part.  In  Greene's  Defence  of  Coney-catching,  1592:  "  If 
he  borrow  a  hundred  pound,  he  shall  have  forty  in  silver,  and 
threescore  in  wares  as  lute-strings,  hobby-horses,  or  brown  paper." 

21.  for  the  Lord's  sake: — It  appears  from  an  ancient  Epigram, 
that  this  was  the  language  in  which  prisoners  who  were  confined 
for  debt  addressed  passengers :  "  Good  gentle  writers,  for  the 
Lord's  sake,  for  the  Lord's  sake,  like  Ludgate  prisoners,  lo,  I, 
begging,  make  my  mone."  And  in  Nash's  Pierce  Penniless, 
1593:  "At  that  time  that  thy  joys  were  in  the  fleeting,  and  thus 
crying  for  the  Lord's  sake  out  of  an  iron  window." 

91.  That  is,  to  the  people  dwelling  on  the  earth  below. 

102.  well-balanced  form: — The  original  has  " weal-balanc'd 
form  " ;  which  may  indeed  possibly  be  right,  referring  to  the  state 
— balanc'd  for  the  public  weal;  but  this  sense  is  so  far-fetched  and 
improbable,  that  it  can  scarcely  be  the  Poet's. 

164.  lives  not  in  them: — That  is,  he  depends  not  on  them. 

166.  zvoodman  : — A  zvoedman  was  a  hunter.  It  is  here  used  in 
a  wanton  sense  for  a  hunter  of  a  different  sort  of  game.  So, 
Falstaff  asks  his  mistresses  in   The  Merry   Wives  of   Windsor: 

149 


Notes  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

"Am  I  a  woodman?  Ha!"  This  use  of  the  word  may  have 
s'prung  from  the  consonance  of  deer  and  dear;  as  in  Beaumont 
and  Fletcher's  play,  The  Chances,  I.  viii. : — 

"  Well,  well,  son  John, 
I  see  you  are  a  woodman,  and  can  choose 
Your  deer,  though  it  be  i'  the  dark." 

Scene  IV. 

i8.  Figure  and  rank. 

27,  dares  her  no  : — This  is  commonly  printed  thus  :  "  Yet  reason 
dares  her?  no;  for  my  authority,"  etc.;  in  which  case  dares  has 
the  sense  of  prompt,  challenge,  or  call  forth,  as  in  i  Henry  IV., 
V.  ii.  :— 

"  Unless  a  brother  should  a  brother  dare 
To  gentle  exercise  ancf  proof  of  arms." 

"Does  reason  move  her  to  expose  me? — No;  the  drawings  of 
reason  are  all  the  other  way  "  ;  which  certainly  yields  an  apt  and 
clear  meaning  enough.  Yet  we  give  the  passage  as  it  stands  in 
the  original.  Nor  is  ^he  sense  much  less  clear  and  apt  as  there 
printed.  For  dare,  used  transitively,  may  well  have,  and  often 
has,  the  effect  to  keep  or  dissuade  one  from  doing  a  thing;  as  if 
one  should  say — "  I  dared  him  to  strike  me,  and  he  durst  not  do 
it."'  So  in  the  text  as  we  give  it  the  sense  plainly  is — "  Yet 
reason  bids  her  not  expose  me";  the  effect  of  that  bidding  being 
expressed  by  no ;  reason  threatens  and  overawes  her,  so  that  she 
dare  not  do  it.  Thus,  in  Beaumont  and  Fletcher's  play,  The 
Chances,  III.  iv. : — 

"  His  sister  that  you  nam'd  'tis  true  I  have  long  lov'd, 
As  true,  I  have  enjoy'd  her;  no  less  truth, 
I  have  a  child  by  her :   but  that  she,  or  he, 
Or  any  of  that  family,  are  tainted. 
Suffer  disgrace,  or  ruin,  by  my  pleasures, 
I  wear  a  sword  to  satisfy  the  world  no." 

That  is,  to  satisfy  the  world  that  'tis  not  so.  So  also  in  A  Wife 
for  a  Month,  by  the  same  authors:  "I'm  sure  he  did  not,  for  I 
charged  him  no";  that  is,  charged  him  not  to  do  it.  But  indeed 
this  use  of  no  is  not  uncommon  in  the  old  writers.  The  of  after 
bears,  in  the  next  line,  seems  to  have  a  partitive  sense :  "  For  my 
authority  carries  so  much  of  weight,"  etc. 

150 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Notes 

ACT   FIFTH. 
Scene  I. 

64,65.  do  not  banish  .  .  .  inequality: — The  meaning  ap- 
pears to  be,  "  Do  not  suppose  me  mad  because  I  speak  inconsist- 
ently or  unequally." 

66.  Let  your  reason  serve  to  discover  the  truth,  where  it  lies 
hid,  and  to  refute  the  false,  where  it  seems  true. 

90.  That  is,  suited  to  the  matter;  as  in  Hamlet:  "The  phrase 
would  be  more  germane  to  the  matter." 

205.  Abuse  stands  in  this  place  for  deception  or  pucde.  So  in 
Macbeth :  "  My  strange  and  stii-abuse " ;  meaning  this  strange 
deception  of  myself. 

212.  Garden-houses  were  formerly  much  in  fashion,  and  often 
used  as  places  of  clandestine  meeting  and  intrigue.  They  were 
chiefly  such  buildings  as  we  should  now  call  summer-houses, 
standing  in  a  walled  or  enclosed  garden  in  the  suburbs  of  London. 

236.  Informal  signifies  out  of  their  senses.  So  in  The  Comedy 
of  Errors,  V.  i  :  "  To  make  of  him  a  formal  man  again."  The 
speaker  had  just  before  said  that  she  would  keep  Antipholus  of 
Syracuse,  who  is  behaving  like  a  madman,  till  she  had  brought 
him  to  his  right  wits  again. 

280.  light: — This  is  one  of  the  words  on  which  Shakespeare 
delights  to  quibble.  Thus  Portia,  in  The  Merchant  of  Venice: 
"  Let  me  give  light,  but  let  me  not  be  light.'' 

318.  Provincial  is  pertaining  to  a  province;  most  usually  taken 
for  the  circuit  of  an  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction.  The  chief  or  head 
of  any  religious  order  in  such  a  province  was  called  the  provin- 
cial, to  whom  alone  the  members  of  that  order  were  accountable. 

323,324.  barber's  shop,  etc.: — Barbers'  shops  were  anciently 
places  of  great  resort  for  passing  away  time  in  an  idle  manner. 
By  way  of  enforcing  some  kind  of  regularity,  and  perhaps  as  much 
to  promote  drinking,  certain  laws  were  usually  hung  up,  the 
transgression  of  which  was  to  be  punished  by  specific  forfeits', 
which  were  as  much  in  mock  as  mark,  because  the  barber  had  no 
authority  of  himself  to  enforce  them,  and  also  because  they  were 
of  a  ludicrous  nature. 

359.  be  hanged  an  hour! — "What,  Piper  ho!  be  hang'd  awhile," 
is  a  line  in  an  old  madrigal.  And  in  Ben  Jonson's  Bartholomew 
Fair  we  have  :   "  Leave  the  bottle  behind  you,  and  be  curst  awhile." 

151 


Notes  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

That  is,  be  hang'd,  be  curst;  azvJiile  being,  like  an  hour  in  the  text, 
merely  a  vulgar  expletive. 

396.  rash  remonstrance: — That  is,  "a  premature  display"  of  it. 
Perhaps  we  should  read  c?^monstrance ;  but  the  word  may  be 
formed  from  remonstrer,  French,  to  shozv  again. 

400.  That  brain' d  my  purpose : — We  still  use  in  conversation  a 
like  phrase :    "  that  knocked  my  design  on  the  head.'' 

415.  Measure  still  for  measure  appears  to  have  been  a  current 
expression  for  retributive  justice.  So  in  3  Henry  VI.,  II.  vi. : 
"  Measure  for  Measure  must  be  answered."  Perhaps  the  proverb 
grew  from  the  Scripture — "  With  what  measure  ye  mete,  it  shall 
be  measured  to  you  again." 

417.  though  thou  zi'ouldst  deny,  etc.: — That  is,  "To  deny  which 
will  avail  thee  nothing." 

438.  kneel  down  in  mercy : — That  is,  to  beg  for  mercy  on  this 
act. 

443-445.  best  men  .  .  .  bad: — On  the  principle  that  Nature 
or  Providence  often  uses  our  vices  to  scourge  down  our  pride ;  as 
in  Airs  Well  that  Ends  Well,  IV.  iii. :  "Our  virtues  would  be 
proud,  if  our  faults  whipp'd  them  not." 

456,  457.  must  be  buried,  etc. : — Like  the  traveller,  who  dies  on 
his  journey,  is  obscurely  interred,  and  thought  of  no  more. 

501.  her  worth  worth  yours: — That  is,  "her  value  is  equal  to 
yours ;  the  match  is  not  unworthy  of  you." 


152 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 
Questions  on 

Measure  for  Measure. 

1.  What  is  the  first  printed  record  of  the  play?  Is  there  any 
evidence  that  it  was  produced  in  Shakespeare's  day?  What  facts 
are  used  to  fix  the  probable  date  of  the  play? 

2.  Indicate  the  Italian  and  English  sources  of  the  plot.  What 
part  is  wholly  Shakespeare's?  How  much  time  is  employed  in  the 
action  of  the  play? 

3.  Does  it  take  place  on  consecutive  days? 

4.  Mention  the  attributive  epithets  that  Shakespeare  affixes  to 
some  of  the  dramatis  personse.  What  do  you  take  this  to  indicate 
as  to  the  nature,  in  the  main,  of  the  play? 

ACT  FIRST. 

5.  What  tribute  does  the  Duke  pay  to  Escalus's  talents?  With 
what  office  does  he  invest  Angelo?  How  are  the  two  men  to  be 
associated? 

6.  What  is  Escalus's  opinion  of  Angelo?— what  is  the  Duke's? 

7.  What  is  the  keynote  of  Angelo's  first  speech? 

8.  In  what  condition  does  the  Duke  leave  the  State?  Is  he  to 
renounce  all  duties  and  functions  during  his  absence? 

9.  What  view  of  himself  does  the  Duke  give  in  declining  an 
escort  out  of  the  city? 

10.  How  do  you  characterize  Sc.  i.  as  contributory  to  the  plot? 
What  time  is  likely  to  have  elapsed  between  Scenes  i.  and  ii.  ? 

11.  Give  your  inference  concerning  the  spirit  of  the  play  from 
the  pitch  that  is  taken  in  Sc.  ii.  before  the  entrance  of  Mistress 
Overdone. 

12.  What  trait  of  character  allies  her  with  Mistress  Quickly; 
the  Nurse  of  Romeo  and  Juliet,  etc.? 

13.  To  indicate  Shakespeare's  breadth  of  tolerance,  what  men- 
tion of  a  virtue  of  Claudio's  do  we  find  following  close  upon  the 
heels  of  his  besetting  vice? 

153 


Questions  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

14.  What  edict  does  Pompey  report?  Point  out  the  comedy  of 
this  whole  passage  between  Pompey  and  Mistress  Overdone. 

15.  Of  Angelo's  administration  what  first  act  do  we  see?  What 
is  its  moral  implication? 

16.  Does  Claudio,  in  his  first  speech,  suggest  something  of  the 
quality  of  Hamlet's  nature? 

17.  Explain  the  nature  of  the  relation  between  Claudio  and 
Juliet.  What  does  Claudio  say  of  the  legal  act  that  was  applied 
to  their  case?     In  what  light  does  Angelo's  rigor  place  himself? 

18.  What  traits  of  Isabella  does  Claudio  expect  will  aid  his 
case?     Do  we  find  that  Isabella  is  thus  underestimated? 

19.  Explain,  Believe  not  that  the  dribbling  dart  of  love  can 
pierce  a  complete  bosom. 

20.  Give  in  detail  the  Duke's  purposes  as  he  describes  them,  to 
Friar  Thomas. 

21.  Which  of  the  two  motives,  that  the  Duke  advances  as  ex- 
plaining his  aloofness,  do  you  consider  the  stronger  with  him? 

22.  What  is  the  subject  of  conversation  between  Isabella  and 
Francisca  when  Lucio  enters  in  Sc.  iv.  ? 

23.  What  indictment  of  Angelo  does  Lucio  make?  What  does 
he  say  of  the  Duke's  action?  What  was  evidently  Lucio's  social 
standing? 

24.  Does  Lucio  convey  the  message  of  Claudio  in  suggesting  the 
arts  that  Isabella  should  use  with  Angelo?  What  effect  is  pro- 
duced by  the  arrangement  of  scenes  in  this  Act,  instead  of  the  pos- 
sible inversion  of  Scenes  ii.  and  iii.  ? 


ACT  SECOND. 

25.  How  does  Escalus  advise  Angelo  (Sc.  i.)  concerning  the 
application  of  the  law  to  Claudio?  What  irony  is  there  in  An- 
gelo's reply? 

26.  Is  the  scene  that  follows  with  Elbow  too  long?  How  does 
Elbow  compare  in  humour  with  Dogberry  in  Much  Ado  About 
Nothing?  What  Shakespearian  humour  do  you  see  in  Pompey's 
Truly,  sir,  I  am  a  poor  fellow  that  zvould  live? 

27.  There  is  evidently  a  dramatic  purpose  in  this  scene  that 
travesties  justice; — what  is  it?  Speaking  in  extenuation  of  An- 
gelo's severity,  Escalus  says,  Mercy  is  not  itself  that  oft  looks  so. 
Interpret  this. 

28.  How  is  the  thought  of  pardoning  Claudio  managed  in  Sc.  ii. 

154 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Questions 

so  as  to  grow  in  intensity  and  to  take  its  place  as  a  part  of  the 
justice  of  things? 

29.  What  is  the  temper  of  Angelo's  speech  (Sc.  iii.  37-41)  ?  May 
it  be  said  to  contain  the  very  kernel  of  the  play? 

30.  Explain  lines  74-79. 

31.  When  does  justice  become  pity  in  Angelo's  philosophy? 
How  near  right  was  he?  Is  the  ground  that  Angelo  took  too 
high  for  human  agency  to  stand  upon  ? 

32.  By  what  turn  in  Isabella's  pleading  was  Angelo  won  to 
reconsider  Claudio's  case? 

33.  Was  it  to  avenge  his  injured  self-pride  that  Angelo  medi- 
tated the  damage  to  Isabella's  chastity?  How  does  Angelo  him- 
self think  his  temptation  comes? 

34.  Sc.  iii.,  while  adding  little  to  the  action,  yet  adds  what  to  the 
plot?    Does  the  Duke  stand  for  the  overruling  Providence? 

35.  Compare  the  speech  of  Angelo  (Sc.  iv.)  with  the  prayer- 
scene  of  the  King  in  Hamlet.  What  is  the  difference  between  a 
man  whose  conscience  is  weighted  with  a  crime  and  one  whose 
mind  is  preoccupied  with  a  crime  to  be  committed? 

36.  What  passage  here  helps  to  establish  the  date  of  the    play? 

37.  Angelo  implies  what  in  lines  35,  36?  Is  there  honesty  in 
Angelo's  apostrophe  to  these  filthy  vices  (line  43  et  seq.)  ? 

38.  When  Angelo  accuses  Isabella  of  craft  in  not  following  his 
meaning,  is  he  not  himself  employing  craft  to  lead  her  into  a  trap? 

39.  Did  Angelo  add  cruelty  to  his  other  traits?  Why  could  not 
Isabella  denounce  Angelo  for  what  he  is? 

ACT   THIRD. 

40.  What  is  the  general  tenor  and  temper  of  the  Duke's  mono- 
logue in  the  beginning  of  Act  III.?  Does  anything  in  Hamlet 
match  it  for  bitterness? 

41.  What  is  the  dramatic  purpose  in  Isabella's  delay  in  coming 
to  the  point  of  Angelo's  demand,  as  she  repeats  it  to  Claudio? 
What  reflection  of  herself  do  you  see  in  Claudio? 

42.  Is  it  the  real  Claudio  who  breaks  down  later  and  begs  Isa- 
bella to  make  the  sacrifice  ? 

43.  Compare  the  speech  of  Claudio  with  Hamlet's  reflection 
upon  the  hereafter.  How  do  they  show  the  difference  between 
the  man  of  senses  and  the  man  of  thought? 

44.  How  do  you  account  for  the  words  with  which  Claudio 
leaves  the  stage? 

155 


Questions  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

45.  How  does  the  Duke  undertake  to  solve  the  difficulty? 

46.  What  covert  allusions  may  Shakespeare  have  intended 
(Sc.  ii.)  in  Pompey's  speech  of  the  "two  usuries"? 

47.  Had  it  been  Claudio,  instead  of  Lucio,  who  was  asked, 
would  he  have  gone  bail  for  Pompey  ? 

48.  Does  Shakespeare  intend  "poetic  justice"  in  the  Scene 
where  Lucio  berates  the  Duke  to  his  face,  thus  punishing  him  for 
his  masquerading? 

49.  Are  the  reflections  of  the  Duke  (lines  196  et  seq)  in  char- 
acter ? 

50.  What  motive  had  Escalus  for  wishing  to  mitigate  the  se- 
verity of  Angelo's  sentence  upon  Claudio? 

51.  Analyze  the  thought  of  the  speech  with  which  the  Duke 
concludes  this  Act. 

ACT   FOURTH. 

52.  What  is  the  emotional  effect  of  the  song  with  which  the  Act 
opens?  Compare  this  episode  with  Tennyson's  "Mariana  of  the 
Moated  Grange,"  and  say  what  is  the  internal  harmony  of  the  two. 

53.  What  suitability  to  the  time  and  occasion  do  you  see  in  the 
speech  of  the  Duke  beginning  with  line  60?  Compare  it  with 
Act  in.  Sc.  ii.  196-200. 

54.  Does  Pompey  turned  hangman  become  more  or  less  repel- 
lent than  he  was  before? 

55.  How,  through  the  manner  of  leading  up  to  the  point,  is  the 
surprise  of  Angelo's  letter  (line  123)  made  keener?  How  does 
it  affect  one's  feeling  about  the  character  of  Angelo? 

56.  From  the  Barnardine  episode  what  impression  does  one 
get  of  the  nature  of  the  Duke's  government? 

57.  What  change  in  the  natural  evolution  of  events  does  the 
Duke  introduce  in  Sc.  ii.?  Through  what  supporting  authority  is 
he  able  to  effect  this? 

58.  What  picture  of  prison  life  do  you  find  in  Sc.  iii.?  Was  it 
a  picture  of  contemporaneous  conditions? 

59.  How  is  the  audience  made  aware  that  the  term  of  the 
Duke's  masquerading  is  about  to  close? 

60.  What  part  of  the  action  of  the  play  takes  place  at  the 
Moated  Grange  of  Mariana? 

61.  How  does  Lucio  turn  the  tables  upon  himself? 

62.  What  is  the  episodic  value  of  Sc.  iv.  ? 

63.  Explain  the  reflections  of  Angelo  beginning  with  line  21. 

156 


MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE  Questions 

64.  What  preparations  for  the  events  of  Act  V.  are  made  in  the 
fourth  Act  ? 

ACT   FIFTH. 

65.  Recount  the  train  of  events  as  they  develop  in  the  fifth  Act. 

66.  Is  the  interest  abated  by  the  fact  that  the  action  of  the  play 
becomes  artificial,  and  controlled  by  the  Duke  as  deus  ex  machina? 

67.  Is  there  still  an  interest  derived  from  the  fact  that  Isabella 
and  Mariana  only  partly  understand  the  purposes  of  the  Duke? 

68.  How  does  Angelo  bear  up  under  the  uncovering  of  his 
crimes? 

69.  Does  it  seem  a  hardship  that  Lucio  alone  of  all  the  evil-doers 
has  to  suffer  punishment? 

70.  Had  Shakespeare  not  insisted  upon  turning  the  play  into  a 
comedy,  how  would  the  action  have  "run  on  to  a  natural  conclu- 
sion? 

71.  What  evidences  do  you  see  throughout  the  play  of  a  comic 
purpose,  even  though  the  elements  dealt  with  are  tragic? 

72.  Mention  qualities  in  Lucio  that  count  on  the  nobler  side  of 
life. 

73.  Does  Shakespeare  find  in  Claudio  any  trait  that  is  distinctly 
condemnable?  What  is  the  complete  impression  that  you  derive 
of  his  character? 

74.  Compare  the  appeal  to  mercy  that  Isabella  makes  to  Angelo 
with  that  that  Portia  mc-,kes  to  Shylock  and  account  for  the 
differences  in  spirit  and  character. 

75.  What  can  you  say  of  the  Duke?  What  justice  is  there  in 
Lucio's  description  of  him  as  the  fantastical  Duke  of  dark  cor- 
ners f 

76.  When  is  it  likely  that  the  Duke  first  knew  of  the  story  of 
Mariana  and  consequently  of  Angelo's  relation  to  her?  How 
does  this  bear  upon  the  point  of  his  selecting  Angelo  to  represent 
him? 


77.  Which  is  the  more  subtle  character — the  Duke  or  Angelo? 

78.  Did  the  Duke  ever  suspect  Angelo? 

79.  If  not,  what  view  thereby  do  you  get  of  Angelo  and  of  the 
Duke? 

80.  Is  not  Angelo  the  greatest  ironic  conception  of  Shakespeare? 

81.  Does  Shakespeare  in  this  play  often  violate  consistency  of 

157 


Questions  MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE 

character   for  the   apparent  purpose   of  proving  a   moral    stand- 
point— notably  in  the  case  of  the  Duke? 

82.  What  is  the  difference  between  moralizing  and  treating  a 
subject  morally? 

83.  Trace  the  affiliated  humorous  characters  in  other  plays  of 
Shakespeare. 

84.  What  effect  (Jf  contrast  is  seen  between  the  characters  of 
Angelo  and  Isabella  and  the  other  people  of  the  play?  Which 
group  more  stirs  the  sympathies? 

85.  Weigh  internal  evidences,  comparing  this  with  other  plays 
as  to  characters  and  situations ;  consider  the  development  of  such 
a  character  as  Isabella;  observe  the  arrest  of  natural  evolution  in 
the  plot,  as  seen  in  the  last  Act ;  then  say  where  you  would  place 
this  drama  in  the  chronology  of  Shakespeare's  works. 


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UNIVERSITY   OF  CALIFORNIA-LOS   ANGELES 


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